PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ShapeUp,
the leading global provider of social networking and incentives-based
wellness solutions, today announced key findings from a recent study
examining the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of adding online and
in-person behavioral weight loss interventions to an online social
wellness platform. While combining online and in-person interventions
increased the number of participants achieving a clinically significant
weight loss eight-fold, the study showed that solely adding online
tracking tools, automated feedback, and educational content increased
the number six-fold.
The researchers analyzed the weight loss outcomes of 230 ShapeUp
participants competing in a three-month, team-based fitness competition.
Specifically, they found that adding evidence-based online behavioral
interventions combined with optional in-person group sessions led to an
average weight loss of 6.1 percent of total body weight and increased
the number of participants who lost a clinically significant portion
(5%) of their body weight eight-fold - from 6.5 percent to 54.3 percent.
Perhaps most notably, among participants who received only the online
behavioral interventions, the average weight loss was 4.2 percent of
total body weight, and the number who achieved clinically significant
weight loss increased six-fold from 6.5 percent to 42.2 percent. The
study concluded that the addition of an Internet-based behavioral
program alone was the more cost-effective method to enhance weight loss.
"The findings of this study are significant in that they reveal
substantial progress in identifying cost-effective, scalable, online
behavioral weight loss interventions that are capable of significantly
improving outcomes," said Dr. Rajiv Kumar, founder and CEO of ShapeUp
and one of the co-authors of the study. "At ShapeUp, we believe that
combining social support with evidence-based health interventions is a
recipe for sustainable behavior change, and this study strengthens our
conviction."
Participants with access to the program's online component leveraged
weekly video lessons based on the National Diabetes Prevention Program
and a self-monitoring platform in which they tracked their daily weight,
nutrition, and activity information. On the basis of the information
reported, participants also received weekly feedback on their progress.
A subgroup of the study population had access to in-person, weekly,
group-based educational sessions that included private weigh-ins and
instruction on topics such as recipe modification and portion control.
The study, "Adding Evidence-Based Behavioral Weight Loss Strategies to a
Statewide Wellness Campaign: A Randomized Clinical Trial," was published
in June 2014 in the American Journal of Public Health. It is
co-authored by Drs. Tricia Leahey, Graham Thomas, and Rena Wing from The
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Dr. Joseph Fava and
Katie Krupel from Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Diabetes Research
Center; Dr. Leslee Suback and Michael Schembri from the University of
California San Francisco; and ShapeUp founders, Drs. Rajiv Kumar and
Brad Weinberg. The study is based on results from the statewide,
team-based wellness campaign, ShapeUp Rhode Island, which is powered by
ShapeUp Inc.'s proprietary technology platform.
To learn more about the study, please visit: http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301870?url_ver=Z39.88-2003rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.orgrfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed
About ShapeUp
ShapeUp is the leading global provider of clinically-proven, social
networking and incentives-based employee wellness programs that help
people exercise more, eat healthier, and improve their overall
well-being. Founded in 2006 by two medical doctors, ShapeUp has
pioneered an innovative approach to behavior change called Social
Wellness(TM) that leverages the power of social networking, gaming, and
financial rewards to improve the health of large populations and reduce
healthcare costs. ShapeUp's social wellness platform covers over three
million lives across 129 countries and is used by more than 500
employers and health plans. Learn more about ShapeUp atwww.shapeup.com.
the leading global provider of social networking and incentives-based
wellness solutions, today announced key findings from a recent study
examining the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of adding online and
in-person behavioral weight loss interventions to an online social
wellness platform. While combining online and in-person interventions
increased the number of participants achieving a clinically significant
weight loss eight-fold, the study showed that solely adding online
tracking tools, automated feedback, and educational content increased
the number six-fold.
The researchers analyzed the weight loss outcomes of 230 ShapeUp
participants competing in a three-month, team-based fitness competition.
Specifically, they found that adding evidence-based online behavioral
interventions combined with optional in-person group sessions led to an
average weight loss of 6.1 percent of total body weight and increased
the number of participants who lost a clinically significant portion
(5%) of their body weight eight-fold - from 6.5 percent to 54.3 percent.
Perhaps most notably, among participants who received only the online
behavioral interventions, the average weight loss was 4.2 percent of
total body weight, and the number who achieved clinically significant
weight loss increased six-fold from 6.5 percent to 42.2 percent. The
study concluded that the addition of an Internet-based behavioral
program alone was the more cost-effective method to enhance weight loss.
"The findings of this study are significant in that they reveal
substantial progress in identifying cost-effective, scalable, online
behavioral weight loss interventions that are capable of significantly
improving outcomes," said Dr. Rajiv Kumar, founder and CEO of ShapeUp
and one of the co-authors of the study. "At ShapeUp, we believe that
combining social support with evidence-based health interventions is a
recipe for sustainable behavior change, and this study strengthens our
conviction."
Participants with access to the program's online component leveraged
weekly video lessons based on the National Diabetes Prevention Program
and a self-monitoring platform in which they tracked their daily weight,
nutrition, and activity information. On the basis of the information
reported, participants also received weekly feedback on their progress.
A subgroup of the study population had access to in-person, weekly,
group-based educational sessions that included private weigh-ins and
instruction on topics such as recipe modification and portion control.
The study, "Adding Evidence-Based Behavioral Weight Loss Strategies to a
Statewide Wellness Campaign: A Randomized Clinical Trial," was published
in June 2014 in the American Journal of Public Health. It is
co-authored by Drs. Tricia Leahey, Graham Thomas, and Rena Wing from The
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Dr. Joseph Fava and
Katie Krupel from Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Diabetes Research
Center; Dr. Leslee Suback and Michael Schembri from the University of
California San Francisco; and ShapeUp founders, Drs. Rajiv Kumar and
Brad Weinberg. The study is based on results from the statewide,
team-based wellness campaign, ShapeUp Rhode Island, which is powered by
ShapeUp Inc.'s proprietary technology platform.
To learn more about the study, please visit: http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301870?url_ver=Z39.88-2003rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.orgrfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed
About ShapeUp
ShapeUp is the leading global provider of clinically-proven, social
networking and incentives-based employee wellness programs that help
people exercise more, eat healthier, and improve their overall
well-being. Founded in 2006 by two medical doctors, ShapeUp has
pioneered an innovative approach to behavior change called Social
Wellness(TM) that leverages the power of social networking, gaming, and
financial rewards to improve the health of large populations and reduce
healthcare costs. ShapeUp's social wellness platform covers over three
million lives across 129 countries and is used by more than 500
employers and health plans. Learn more about ShapeUp atwww.shapeup.com.