Weight Loss

Department of Exercise Science
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Dr. Kathy Jones, Researcher

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Dr. Kathy Jones, a researcher in the Exercise Science department, is researching the effects of different instructional methods on weight loss and comprehension of instructional material.

Phase I

To that end, she developed three versions of a 12 week weight loss class: the first, a classic classroom instruction with face-to-face contact between students and instructor; the second a computer based instruction with minimal interaction between stu dents and instructor and the third a text on weight loss. The study was conducted during the Fall 1996 academic semester. Ms. Jones is currently analyzing the data collected. Three of the factors she is examining are: comprehension of the material, weight actually lost, and subject drop-out rate.

The instruction itself is based on Prochaska's model for behavioral change. Prochaska believes that individuals move through six stages when successfully changing established behaviors:

  • Precontemplation-the individual realizes a need for change.
  • Contemplation-the individual visualizes life with that change.
  • Preparation-the individual gathers information and prepares for change.
  • Action-the individual starts changing.
  • Maintenance-the individual makes the change a long term behavior.
  • Termination-the individual lapses to a former behavior.

In addition to the quantitative aspects of the study, Ms. Jones is examining the attitude of the subjects to the instructional method. She is very interested in the potential of CBI and web delivery to reach non-traditional or off-site students. Future wo rk may include revision and expansion of her weight loss CBI and using the Macromedia Shockwave application for web delivery.

Preliminary Findings

Each of the treatment groups, classroom, computer,and text lost weight and significantly reduced waist:hip ratios. When analyzed in a doubly multivariate manova, there was no significant interaction (difference) betwee n groups, but in follow-up univariate tests, all groups had an overall weight loss, i.e. decrease in BMI (F = 29.5, p < 0.001), and a reduction in waist:hip ratio (F = 3.11, p < 0.05). Average weight loss was four pounds over the 12 weeks.

Simple ANOVAs were performed to assess the effect of group on comprehension test scores and attendance. There were no
significant differences between groups on comprehension or attendance, although the attendance requirements were less in terms of time fo r the text and computer groups, as their weekly attendance was approximately 10 minutes, as opposed to an hour's commitment from the classroom group. Fifty-eight of the original seventy-four subjects completed the study.

Phase I completed December 1997

Phase II

The educational program in weight loss has been developed as an open entry-open exit class at a Maricopa County Community College. User access and success rates will be tracked for follow-up research.