The Feasibility of a Home Telenutrition Intervention for Weight Reduction in Men in West Virginia

Abstract

Background West Virginia (WV) has one of the highest national rates of obesity, especially among middleaged men, and one of the lowest Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) ratios per capita. Providing nutrition advice via teleconferencing may allow obese WV middle-aged men to overcome access barriers that are preventing them from overcoming obesity. However, before large-scale interventions can be effectively conducted, the feasibility must be assessed. Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a home telenutrition weight-loss program using videoconferencing among obese men in WV. Feasibility is assessed through technical difficulties tracked throughout the intervention and through a post-intervention satisfaction survey. Methods A survey was developed to assess the participants' level of satisfaction related to the technological and nutritional care aspects of the intervention. Twenty-seven men aged 40-70 who participated in a 12-week telenutrition weight loss intervention took this survey upon completion of the intervention. The amount and type of technical difficulties were also documented throughout the intervention. Results Eighty-one video calls were attempted throughout the intervention with all but one participant experiencing at least one minor or major technical difficulty either logging on or during the calls. Even with these technical difficulties, overall satisfaction with this mode of delivery was high, regardless of age, income level, education level, employment status, and technical difficulties logging on or during video calls. Previous videoconferencing experience was significantly related to higher satisfaction levels. Conclusion and summary Videoconferencing is a technologically feasible and highly acceptable method of nutrition counseling for the middle-aged, obese male population in WV, as shown with no significant differences between group demographics. Videoconferencing should be used to develop a largerscale intervention for this population to combat obesity within this demographic.