Evaluating a weight loss program for young women delivered using technology: Be Positive Be Healthe

INTERVENTION: Be Positive Be Healthe is a 6‐month intervention. The goal of Be Positive Be Healthe is to facilitate a 5 to 10% reduction from baseline weight. Participants will set an individualised energy intake and energy expenditure goal to facilitate a weight loss of approximately 0.5kg/week. They will be encouraged to meet this goal by making changes to the eating and physical activity behaviours that cause weight gain and increase CVD risk. To assist young women to implement the desired changes to behaviour, the behavioural strategies for weight management, which will be targeted throughout the intervention, and be highlighted as a weekly topic. Participants will be asked to engage with the eHealth tools to facilitate behaviour change and meet their weight loss goal. The eHealth tools include a study website (information and resources available at all times); online quizzes with individualised email feedback (Week 1, 3, 8, 12 and 20) and goal setting (Week 1); a smartphone application for self‐monitoring (recommended to use 4 days per week), email newsletters and text messages for education (1 newsletter/week and 2 text messages/week Week 1‐12 and 1 newsletter/fortnight and 1 text message/week Week 13‐26), and social media (Facebook and Instagram) for social support (available at all times). CONDITION: Overweight and obesity PRIMARY OUTCOME: Weight will be objectively measured on a digital scale (Inbody 720). SECONDARY OUTCOME: Alcohol intake will be assessed using short questions from the NSW Health Survey. Body mass index: Height will be measured using a stadiometer (Inbody BSM 370), and BMI will be calculated from measured height and weight using the standard equation ; Dietary intake (energy, macro/micronutrient and food group intake, diet quality) will be assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (Australian Eating Survey). Intervention participants usage of the eHealth intervention (e.g. website visits, use of smartphone application) will be objectively tracked by the program. Physical activity (step counts) will be objectively measured using pedometers (Yamax DigiWalker SW700). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour will be self‐reported using the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire and the Sitting Questionnaire. Program acceptability will be evaluated using a process evaluation questionnaire (intervention group only) that was designed by the researchers for the study. Quality of life will be assessed via the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q‐LES‐Q) Short form and the Satisfaction with Life Scale Self‐esteem: Body‐esteem will be self‐reported using the validated Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured using an automatic sphygmomanometer (Inbody BPBIO320) Total cholesterol, HDL‐Cholesterol, LDL‐Cholesterol and Triglycerides will be measured via a finger prick blood sample which will be analysed using the Cardiochek. Waist and hip circumference will be measured to 0.1 cm using a non‐extensible steel tape, with waist measured at the narrowest point between the lower costal border and the umbilicus and hip measured at the level of the greatest circumference of the gluteals. Waist‐to‐hip ratio will be calculated INCLUSION CRITERIA: Female Age 18 to 35 years BMI 25 to 34.9kg/m2 Access to a computer with email and Internet facilities Own an iPhone with Internet access A Facebook and Instagram account they are willing to use for the study Able to attend the University campus for assessments