What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Most weight management programs focus on weight loss rather than weight maintenance. A few trials have focused on weight maintenance but delivered the intervention outside routine primary care or did not involve primary care providers.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to see whether an intervention that provided personalized health coaching through an electronic patient portal and support to primary care providers had an effect on weight change in primary care patients who intentionally lost a large amount of weight.

Who was studied?

The study involved 194 patients who had lost 5% or more of their body weight on purpose during the previous 2 years and had access to a computer that was connected to the Internet. Patients who were pregnant and those who had a history of cancer or bariatric surgery were not eligible for the study.

How was the study done?

The patients were randomly assigned to the intervention group or a tracking group. Both groups were told to enter information about their weight, diet, and exercise into the computer every day. Patients in the intervention group received 2 years of personalized health coaching through the electronic patient portal. In addition, their primary care providers received status reports in real time on the patients' weights, were notified about weight change of 10 pounds or more, and were given annual progress reports. The tracking group received questionnaires on various health concerns (such as vaccinations). The patients were seen for measurement visits every 6 months, and researchers compared weight changes at 24 months between the groups.

What did the researchers find?

Most of the patients in the study were female and white. At 24 months, the intervention group showed less weight regain than the tracking group, and the difference in weight change between groups was significant.

What were the limitations of the study?

The study was conducted at a single institution, and the sample included few men and nonwhite participants.

What are the implications of the study?

Among patients who purposely lost a significant amount of weight, personalized coaching that was delivered through an electronic patient portal resulted in less weight regain.

中文翻译：

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基于技术的教练对减轻体重的影响。

问题是什么，到目前为止对此有什么了解？

大多数体重管理计划的重点是减肥，而不是体重维持。一些试验着重于维持体重，但在常规初级保健之外进行了干预，或没有涉及初级保健提供者。

研究人员为什么要进行这项特殊研究？

研究人员希望了解通过电子患者门户网站提供个性化健康指导并为初级保健提供者提供支持的干预措施是否对故意减肥的初级保健患者的体重变化产生影响。

谁学的？

这项研究涉及194名在过去2年中有意减肥的患者，这些患者在过去两年中故意减肥了5％或以上，并且可以使用连接到互联网的计算机。怀孕的患者以及有癌症或减肥手术史的患者不符合本研究的条件。

研究如何完成？

将患者随机分为干预组或追踪组。两组都被告知每天将有关其体重，饮食和运动的信息输入计算机。干预组的患者通过电子患者门户网站接受了为期2年的个性化健康指导。此外，他们的初级保健提供者会实时收到有关患者体重的状况报告，并告知体重变化超过10磅或更多，并获得年度进展报告。追踪小组收到了有关各种健康问题（例如疫苗接种）的调查表。每6个月对患者进行一次测量访问，研究人员比较了两组之间24个月时的体重变化。

研究人员发现了什么？

研究中的大多数患者是女性和白人。在24个月时，干预组的体重恢复低于追踪组，并且两组之间的体重变化差异显着。

研究的局限性是什么？

这项研究是在单一机构中进行的，样本包括少数男性和非白人参与者。

该研究的意义是什么？

在故意减肥的患者中，通过电子患者门户网站进行的个性化辅导减少了体重的回升。