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Dieters flock online to take weight off



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 23rd, 2004, 09:36 AM
Jean C
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dieters flock online to take weight off

Dieters flock online to take weight off
Sites gain in popularity, but some question effectiveness

(AP) -- Like most yo-yo dieters, Jacqueline Foss struggled with different
fad diets only to watch the pounds creep back. Left with little choice, she
turned to an unlikely source to help her slim down -- the Internet.

Foss enrolled in an online diet program where she recorded her weight,
noted every meal in her food diary and chatted with support groups. She
reached her goal of a sleek 125 pounds after six months -- losing 28 pounds
from her 5-foot-5-inch frame -- and even managed to keep the weight off
nearly a year later.

"It was convenient for me because I just log on from my house," said Foss,
a 41-year-old software saleswoman from Syracuse, New York. "It was also
private and if I failed, nobody would know but me."

Internet dieting has exploded in the last few years, attracting people who
lack the time to attend face-to-face meetings or those too embarrassed to
get on a scale in front of strangers. But the popularity of cyberdieting
has left some experts wondering whether it is as effective as traditional
counseling.

About two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese. Obesity, which
is linked to diabetes, heart disease and other ailments, is on pace to beat
smoking as the nation's leading cause of preventable death.

Foss felt she needed to lose some weight and joined eDiets.com, one of the
largest online diet programs with over 200,000 active members. For $5 a
week, dieters receive personalized meal plans and shopping lists and
around-the-clock access to nutritionists and peer-support chat rooms.
Dieters are encouraged to keep a daily log of their food and a weekly tally
of their weight. If they forget, a message will pop up on their computer
the next time they sign on.

"It's not all about food and diet. A lot of it is getting the tools you
need to make behavioral changes," said Susan Burke, a registered dietitian
and vice president of nutrition services for eDiets.

While cyberdieting generally reaches a wider audience and is significantly
cheaper than weigh-in meetings with a counselor, skeptics argue the biggest
drawback is lack of accountability.

Unlike traditional dieters whose progress is monitored by a dietitian,
online dieters are trusted with keeping track of their own weight, which
critics say may cause some to inflate their results.

"When people are trying to make major lifestyle changes, information typed
on a page may only go so far for certain people," said Cynthia Sass, a
Tampa, Florida-based registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American
Dietetic Association.

How Web diets compare
Experts agree more research is needed to determine how effective the
Internet is in helping people shed pounds and maintain their goal weight.

A 2001 study by researchers at Brown University found that people who
enrolled in a structured online dieting program lost three times more
weight in six months than those who casually surfed the Internet for diet
information.

But the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
did not compare virtual weight-loss programs with traditional counseling.

Last month, researchers at the University of Vermont suggested that the
Internet appears to work as well as offline programs in maintaining
long-term weight loss. The research published in the journal Obesity
Research did not examine whether the Internet actually helped people lose
weight.

Instead, Vermont researchers tracked 255 overweight and obese adults who
first lost weight with the help of a counselor. The adults were then
randomly assigned an 18-month maintenance program via the Internet,
in-person counseling or limited face-to-face contact. Researchers found
that people in the Internet group lost as much weight in the maintenance
phase as those who met regularly with a dietitian.

"From a public health perspective, you can treat so many more thousands of
people on the Internet than you can in person," said Jean Harvey-Berino,
the study's lead author and an associate professor of nutrition and food
science. "There is some value to it."

Joan Rainwater, a paralegal turned yoga teacher from Waterville, Ohio, used
to be a "grazer," constantly snacking at night without keeping track of
what she ate. But after Rainwater signed on to CaloriesCount.com two years
ago, she discovered that being anonymous helped her keep faithful records
of her weight without the pressure of weigh-in meetings.

"I was more honest with myself," said Rainwater, who shaved off 32 pounds
and slimmed from a size 14 to a size 6. "There were times when I'd skip a
meeting because I knew I didn't want to get on the scale."

Many traditional diet centers like Weight Watchers International Inc., best
known for their weekly meetings and group support, have extended their
presence to the Internet, offering a virtual counterpart to dieters who
cannot make in-person meetings.

"We offer the best of both worlds," said Grace Ann Arnold, spokeswoman for
Weigh****chers.com.




  #2  
Old March 23rd, 2004, 10:44 AM
Miss Violette
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dieters flock online to take weight off

interesting, Lee
Jean C wrote in message
...
Dieters flock online to take weight off
Sites gain in popularity, but some question effectiveness

(AP) -- Like most yo-yo dieters, Jacqueline Foss struggled with different
fad diets only to watch the pounds creep back. Left with little choice,

she
turned to an unlikely source to help her slim down -- the Internet.

Foss enrolled in an online diet program where she recorded her weight,
noted every meal in her food diary and chatted with support groups. She
reached her goal of a sleek 125 pounds after six months -- losing 28

pounds
from her 5-foot-5-inch frame -- and even managed to keep the weight off
nearly a year later.

"It was convenient for me because I just log on from my house," said Foss,
a 41-year-old software saleswoman from Syracuse, New York. "It was also
private and if I failed, nobody would know but me."

Internet dieting has exploded in the last few years, attracting people who
lack the time to attend face-to-face meetings or those too embarrassed to
get on a scale in front of strangers. But the popularity of cyberdieting
has left some experts wondering whether it is as effective as traditional
counseling.

About two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese. Obesity,

which
is linked to diabetes, heart disease and other ailments, is on pace to

beat
smoking as the nation's leading cause of preventable death.

Foss felt she needed to lose some weight and joined eDiets.com, one of the
largest online diet programs with over 200,000 active members. For $5 a
week, dieters receive personalized meal plans and shopping lists and
around-the-clock access to nutritionists and peer-support chat rooms.
Dieters are encouraged to keep a daily log of their food and a weekly

tally
of their weight. If they forget, a message will pop up on their computer
the next time they sign on.

"It's not all about food and diet. A lot of it is getting the tools you
need to make behavioral changes," said Susan Burke, a registered dietitian
and vice president of nutrition services for eDiets.

While cyberdieting generally reaches a wider audience and is significantly
cheaper than weigh-in meetings with a counselor, skeptics argue the

biggest
drawback is lack of accountability.

Unlike traditional dieters whose progress is monitored by a dietitian,
online dieters are trusted with keeping track of their own weight, which
critics say may cause some to inflate their results.

"When people are trying to make major lifestyle changes, information typed
on a page may only go so far for certain people," said Cynthia Sass, a
Tampa, Florida-based registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American
Dietetic Association.

How Web diets compare
Experts agree more research is needed to determine how effective the
Internet is in helping people shed pounds and maintain their goal weight.

A 2001 study by researchers at Brown University found that people who
enrolled in a structured online dieting program lost three times more
weight in six months than those who casually surfed the Internet for diet
information.

But the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
did not compare virtual weight-loss programs with traditional counseling.

Last month, researchers at the University of Vermont suggested that the
Internet appears to work as well as offline programs in maintaining
long-term weight loss. The research published in the journal Obesity
Research did not examine whether the Internet actually helped people lose
weight.

Instead, Vermont researchers tracked 255 overweight and obese adults who
first lost weight with the help of a counselor. The adults were then
randomly assigned an 18-month maintenance program via the Internet,
in-person counseling or limited face-to-face contact. Researchers found
that people in the Internet group lost as much weight in the maintenance
phase as those who met regularly with a dietitian.

"From a public health perspective, you can treat so many more thousands of
people on the Internet than you can in person," said Jean Harvey-Berino,
the study's lead author and an associate professor of nutrition and food
science. "There is some value to it."

Joan Rainwater, a paralegal turned yoga teacher from Waterville, Ohio,

used
to be a "grazer," constantly snacking at night without keeping track of
what she ate. But after Rainwater signed on to CaloriesCount.com two years
ago, she discovered that being anonymous helped her keep faithful records
of her weight without the pressure of weigh-in meetings.

"I was more honest with myself," said Rainwater, who shaved off 32 pounds
and slimmed from a size 14 to a size 6. "There were times when I'd skip a
meeting because I knew I didn't want to get on the scale."

Many traditional diet centers like Weight Watchers International Inc.,

best
known for their weekly meetings and group support, have extended their
presence to the Internet, offering a virtual counterpart to dieters who
cannot make in-person meetings.

"We offer the best of both worlds," said Grace Ann Arnold, spokeswoman for
Weigh****chers.com.






  #3  
Old March 23rd, 2004, 01:22 PM
carla
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dieters flock online to take weight off


"Jean C" wrote in message
...
Dieters flock online to take weight off
Sites gain in popularity, but some question effectiveness

[snip]

Internet dieting has exploded in the last few years, attracting people who
lack the time to attend face-to-face meetings or those too embarrassed to
get on a scale in front of strangers. But the popularity of cyberdieting
has left some experts wondering whether it is as effective as traditional
counseling.

[snip]

[posted to ASDLC only]

I used to belong to Weight Watchers, the last time I lost this weight. :-)
At first I pooh-poohed the idea of meetings, but after going to them for a
while I really came to appreciate them as a great source of inspiration,
ideas, and continuing motivation.

When I started this round, after deciding not to do Weight Watchers again, I
sought out this forum right away because I knew I would need something like
the Weight Watchers meetings and the important role they filled.

It's true that the internet or USENET might not work for everyone, but it
has worked well for me - I have a group I can return to for recipe or snack
ideas, for advice, and a general common viewpoint. It's quite helpful for
me. I suppose I could lile to the group about my progress - something I
obviously could do here and could not do in an in-person group - but I
really have no reason to do so, and nothing to gain by doing so.

carla


  #4  
Old March 23rd, 2004, 02:10 PM
Evelyn Ruut
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dieters flock online to take weight off


"carla" wrote in message
...

"Jean C" wrote in message
...
Dieters flock online to take weight off
Sites gain in popularity, but some question effectiveness

[snip]

Internet dieting has exploded in the last few years, attracting people

who
lack the time to attend face-to-face meetings or those too embarrassed

to
get on a scale in front of strangers. But the popularity of cyberdieting
has left some experts wondering whether it is as effective as

traditional
counseling.

[snip]

[posted to ASDLC only]

I used to belong to Weight Watchers, the last time I lost this weight.

:-)
At first I pooh-poohed the idea of meetings, but after going to them for a
while I really came to appreciate them as a great source of inspiration,
ideas, and continuing motivation.

When I started this round, after deciding not to do Weight Watchers again,

I
sought out this forum right away because I knew I would need something

like
the Weight Watchers meetings and the important role they filled.

It's true that the internet or USENET might not work for everyone, but it
has worked well for me - I have a group I can return to for recipe or

snack
ideas, for advice, and a general common viewpoint. It's quite helpful for
me. I suppose I could lile to the group about my progress - something I
obviously could do here and could not do in an in-person group - but I
really have no reason to do so, and nothing to gain by doing so.

carla


Hi Carla,

Yes, exactly my thought. I have always disliked the meeting idea, although
for some it is motivational. For me it wasn't. I hate standing in line to
get on a scale, hate the idea of having to answer to another person for my
weight loss or problems. This is my battle alone and I have myself to
answer to. I can't lie to myself, and this newsgroup is always supportive
and helpful. The recipes and advice are excellent.

--
Evelyn

(To reply to me personally, remove sox)




  #5  
Old March 23rd, 2004, 04:05 PM
Lady Veteran
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dieters flock online to take weight off

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On 23 Mar 2004 09:36:53 +0100, Jean C did not
write:

Move on folks-this is just more stink from the ******* known as NR.

LV


Lady Veteran
- -----------------------------------
"I rode a tank and held a general's rank
when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank..."
- -Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil
- ------------------------------------------------
People who hide behind anonymous remailers and
ridicule fat people are cowardly idiots with no
motive but malice.
- ---------------------------------------------


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Version: PGP 8.0 - not licensed for commercial use: www.pgp.com

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  #6  
Old March 23rd, 2004, 04:12 PM
Cubit
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dieters flock online to take weight off

Aren't we wonderful. USENET is much cheaper than the $5 per week service.

Too bad they didn't mention: http://www.FitDay.com

Thanks for posting this....


"Jean C" wrote in message
...
Dieters flock online to take weight off
Sites gain in popularity, but some question effectiveness

(AP) -- Like most yo-yo dieters, Jacqueline Foss struggled with different
fad diets only to watch the pounds creep back. Left with little choice,

she
turned to an unlikely source to help her slim down -- the Internet.

Foss enrolled in an online diet program where she recorded her weight,
noted every meal in her food diary and chatted with support groups. She
reached her goal of a sleek 125 pounds after six months -- losing 28

pounds
from her 5-foot-5-inch frame -- and even managed to keep the weight off
nearly a year later.

"It was convenient for me because I just log on from my house," said Foss,
a 41-year-old software saleswoman from Syracuse, New York. "It was also
private and if I failed, nobody would know but me."

Internet dieting has exploded in the last few years, attracting people who
lack the time to attend face-to-face meetings or those too embarrassed to
get on a scale in front of strangers. But the popularity of cyberdieting
has left some experts wondering whether it is as effective as traditional
counseling.

About two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese. Obesity,

which
is linked to diabetes, heart disease and other ailments, is on pace to

beat
smoking as the nation's leading cause of preventable death.

Foss felt she needed to lose some weight and joined eDiets.com, one of the
largest online diet programs with over 200,000 active members. For $5 a
week, dieters receive personalized meal plans and shopping lists and
around-the-clock access to nutritionists and peer-support chat rooms.
Dieters are encouraged to keep a daily log of their food and a weekly

tally
of their weight. If they forget, a message will pop up on their computer
the next time they sign on.

"It's not all about food and diet. A lot of it is getting the tools you
need to make behavioral changes," said Susan Burke, a registered dietitian
and vice president of nutrition services for eDiets.

While cyberdieting generally reaches a wider audience and is significantly
cheaper than weigh-in meetings with a counselor, skeptics argue the

biggest
drawback is lack of accountability.

Unlike traditional dieters whose progress is monitored by a dietitian,
online dieters are trusted with keeping track of their own weight, which
critics say may cause some to inflate their results.

"When people are trying to make major lifestyle changes, information typed
on a page may only go so far for certain people," said Cynthia Sass, a
Tampa, Florida-based registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American
Dietetic Association.

How Web diets compare
Experts agree more research is needed to determine how effective the
Internet is in helping people shed pounds and maintain their goal weight.

A 2001 study by researchers at Brown University found that people who
enrolled in a structured online dieting program lost three times more
weight in six months than those who casually surfed the Internet for diet
information.

But the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
did not compare virtual weight-loss programs with traditional counseling.

Last month, researchers at the University of Vermont suggested that the
Internet appears to work as well as offline programs in maintaining
long-term weight loss. The research published in the journal Obesity
Research did not examine whether the Internet actually helped people lose
weight.

Instead, Vermont researchers tracked 255 overweight and obese adults who
first lost weight with the help of a counselor. The adults were then
randomly assigned an 18-month maintenance program via the Internet,
in-person counseling or limited face-to-face contact. Researchers found
that people in the Internet group lost as much weight in the maintenance
phase as those who met regularly with a dietitian.

"From a public health perspective, you can treat so many more thousands of
people on the Internet than you can in person," said Jean Harvey-Berino,
the study's lead author and an associate professor of nutrition and food
science. "There is some value to it."

Joan Rainwater, a paralegal turned yoga teacher from Waterville, Ohio,

used
to be a "grazer," constantly snacking at night without keeping track of
what she ate. But after Rainwater signed on to CaloriesCount.com two years
ago, she discovered that being anonymous helped her keep faithful records
of her weight without the pressure of weigh-in meetings.

"I was more honest with myself," said Rainwater, who shaved off 32 pounds
and slimmed from a size 14 to a size 6. "There were times when I'd skip a
meeting because I knew I didn't want to get on the scale."

Many traditional diet centers like Weight Watchers International Inc.,

best
known for their weekly meetings and group support, have extended their
presence to the Internet, offering a virtual counterpart to dieters who
cannot make in-person meetings.

"We offer the best of both worlds," said Grace Ann Arnold, spokeswoman for
Weigh****chers.com.






  #7  
Old March 23rd, 2004, 04:29 PM
Daedalus
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dieters flock online to take weight off

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 09:05:17 -0600, Lady Veteran
, wrote:

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On 23 Mar 2004 09:36:53 +0100, Jean C did not
write:

Move on folks-this is just more stink from the ******* known as NR.

LV


More people would find it easier to "move on" as soon as you learn
enough self control to do so, Lady Obsesso.

Jade

  #8  
Old March 23rd, 2004, 05:20 PM
Roger Zoul
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dieters flock online to take weight off

carla wrote:
:: "Jean C" wrote in message
:: ...
::: Dieters flock online to take weight off
::: Sites gain in popularity, but some question effectiveness
:::
:: [snip]
:::
::: Internet dieting has exploded in the last few years, attracting
::: people who lack the time to attend face-to-face meetings or those
::: too embarrassed to get on a scale in front of strangers. But the
::: popularity of cyberdieting has left some experts wondering whether
::: it is as effective as traditional counseling.
:::
:: [snip]
::
:: [posted to ASDLC only]
::
:: I used to belong to Weight Watchers, the last time I lost this
:: weight. :-) At first I pooh-poohed the idea of meetings, but after
:: going to them for a while I really came to appreciate them as a
:: great source of inspiration, ideas, and continuing motivation.
::
:: When I started this round, after deciding not to do Weight Watchers
:: again, I sought out this forum right away because I knew I would
:: need something like the Weight Watchers meetings and the important
:: role they filled.
::
:: It's true that the internet or USENET might not work for everyone,
:: but it has worked well for me - I have a group I can return to for
:: recipe or snack ideas, for advice, and a general common viewpoint.
:: It's quite helpful for me. I suppose I could lile to the group
:: about my progress - something I obviously could do here and could
:: not do in an in-person group - but I really have no reason to do so,
:: and nothing to gain by doing so.

I agree with you carla....this USENET ng helps me keep focus. It may not be
for everyone, however.


::
:: carla


  #9  
Old March 23rd, 2004, 06:15 PM
Skinny pre-diabetic-hypoglycemic
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dieters flock online to take weight off

Dunno about weight loss, but in the hour it would take to drive to town
for one meeting with maybe a dozen people attending all on the same
plan, on the Net I can get lots of views from different people doing
different things, some of them real experts. :-) And it's already
written down, I can just cut and paste.


Skinny --
pre-diab hypo
-----------------------------


On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 15:12:36 GMT, "Cubit" wrote:

Aren't we wonderful. USENET is much cheaper than the $5 per week service.

Too bad they didn't mention: http://www.FitDay.com

  #10  
Old March 24th, 2004, 03:07 AM
Lady Veteran
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dieters flock online to take weight off

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 15:12:36 GMT, "Cubit" wrote:

Aren't we wonderful. USENET is much cheaper than the $5 per week
service.

Too bad they didn't mention: http://www.FitDay.com

Thanks for posting this....


You like troll posts? Too bad. A good woman was forged in the making
of this post.

LV



Lady Veteran
- -----------------------------------
"I rode a tank and held a general's rank
when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank..."
- -Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil
- ------------------------------------------------
People who hide behind anonymous remailers and
ridicule fat people are cowardly idiots with no
motive but malice.
- ---------------------------------------------


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Version: PGP 8.0 - not licensed for commercial use: www.pgp.com

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