Exploratory Study of Web-Based Planning and Mobile Text Reminders in an Overweight Population

BACKGROUND Forming specific health plans can help translate good intentions into action. Mobile text reminders can further enhance the effects of planning on behavior. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to explore the combined impact of a Web-based, fully automated planning tool and mobile text reminders on intention to change saturated fat intake, self-reported saturated fat intake, and portion size changes over 4 weeks. METHODS Of 1013 men and women recruited online, 858 were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 conditions: a planning tool (PT), combined planning tool and text reminders (PTT), and a control group. All outcome measures were assessed by online self-reports. Analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. RESULTS Participants allocated to the PT (mean(saturatedfat) 3.6, mean(copingplanning) 3) and PTT (mean(saturatedfat) 3.5, mean(copingplanning) 3.1) reported a lower consumption of high-fat foods (F(2,571) = 4.74, P = .009) and higher levels of coping planning (F(2,571) = 7.22, P < .001) than the control group (mean(saturatedfat) 3.9, mean(copingplanning) 2.8). Participants in the PTT condition also reported smaller portion sizes of high-fat foods (mean 2.8; F(2,569) = 4.12, P = .0) than the control group (mean(portions) 3.1). The reduction in portion size was driven primarily by the male participants in the PTT (P = .003). We found no significant group differences in terms of percentage saturated fat intake, intentions, action planning, self-efficacy, or feedback on the intervention. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the use of Web-based tools and mobile technologies to change dietary behavior. The combination of a fully automated Web-based planning tool with mobile text reminders led to lower self-reported consumption of high-fat foods and greater reductions in portion sizes than in a control condition. TRIAL REGISTRATION International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): 61819220; http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN61819220 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/63YiSy6R8).