The most threatening health issues in the world today are associated with the problem of weight. There have increased cases of weight related issues, the most common one being obesity. Obesity leaves a person vulnerable to other conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and severe instances of high blood pressure. There have been numerous efforts to increase healthy lifestyles that would reduce such conditions, but the issue of weight still looms in the background. One of the beauties surrounding the internet is that it has brought about is the use of online regulated diet programs that have proved to be more efficient in solving the issue of weight. Online diet programs are ideal in terms of affordability, accessibility, scheduling and flexibility when they give tips to their clients, which make them useful in the struggle against weight and subsequent reduction in weight related conditions
Traditionally, weight related issues have been handled through counseling and emphasis on a proper diet and exercise, but nothing had been done in the making of such things accessible. The campaigns are centered on talks about nutritional practices and the consequences of the lack of such habits thereof. The individuals have been left to battle with their issues through establishing their disciplined healthy regimes. The internet goes beyond the traditional methods of coping with weight and assumes a practical approach that is effective. Theoretically, people can be told about consequences of weight matters and how they should tackle it but that is not enough. The internet presents something that is tangible in giving direction to individuals who suffer from weight issues such as obesity. The diet programs tell people what to eat, how to exercise and provides a schedule that can be adhered to. They take a practical approach in a scheduled timetable that is easy to follow and comprehensively involves all nutritional aspects. They also give tips on which places to shop for the healthy products, how often to eat them and provide reminder alerts on the issue of healthy living. Through such means, online diet websites are effective and practical for individuals with weight issues.
The online programs are affordable, which makes them the best option for the majority of people battling with their weight. Young people, especially, can afford the programs that are given through the internet. Ideally, the on-site programs that advocate healthy lifestyles can only be available to people who have the means to pay experts to take them physically through a healthy regime. The expenses that come with such programs make ordinary people shy away from them. Affordability is one of the things that everybody considers before they are involved in something. Studies have shown that weight related diseases are more rampant in people with financial challenges. Therefore, subjecting the same individuals to on-site diet programs is not an effective way of dealing with the problem. Online websites provide the same services for a significantly lower price, which means that people will sign up for them. Thus, their affordability makes them an effective way for individuals to find help for their weight issues.
Self-help in the treatment of obesity is not a feasible option for those who suffer from the condition. Online programs provide interventions for those weight loss factors that have been empirically tested (Khaylis, Anna, Themis and Jessica, 4). The programs provide professional help through a strategic nutritional and exercise education, provision of principles and requirements of structural modifications and a change in behavioral aspects that directly affect weight gain. The programs take into account such issues and provide a comprehensive schedule for an individual that is both educative and practical in nature. People have information on the issues that cause diseases such as diabetes but do not know how to handle the information. The effectiveness of online diet programs is that they reach out and provide insight into how the information, which is fuelled by empirical evidence, can be used. The schedule that is given in most of these sites is also more flexible when compared to on-site programs. Take for instance, a college student with lectures to attend, group meetings and so forth. The on-site programs may take a toll on them because they are more involving and need more time. Eventually, such busy people stop attending the programs. Online diet programs take about two hours a week on average. The most intensive ones can take up to three hours on approximate. Such time is accommodative of the schedule of the average person. For this reason, they become more effective than traditional approaches. For on-site programs, an individual has to find time for attendance of one on one session. The issue of scheduling is crucial to encouraging people to participate in nutritional programs.
Additionally, the websites for weight reduction are effective in reaching a bigger medium and are accessible to everybody in the society. Technology has been incorporated into the daily lives of the people and remains as the appropriate medium to instigate the response of people to critical issues. Every person has a fair access to the internet, which makes it a suitable and efficient medium to communicate the need for a nutritious and healthy lifestyle. The programs are identified as a viable solution to the issues of weight that has affected a substantial number of people because of its effectiveness in reaching a broad platform. On-site programs can only reach a handful of people, but the internet spreads across a larger scope. Hence, the probability of reducing weight related diseases in more people is increased and provides a better chance of reduction of numbers in cases of obesity and diabetes.
Furthermore, the programs are interactive in nature and give a better chance of change in individuals. People can form partnerships with the caregivers that are found in such sites. The rapports between patients and caregivers are mandatory in the provision of care. Therefore, through the opportunities for partnerships and rapports, the individuals that suffer from weight issues can get absolute expert treatment. The providers can be able to deal with their patients and offer advice on points of weakness through available chat rooms. The fact that the exchange is not one on one is ideal for patients who are not comfortable when discussing their weight issues. Sometimes, one on one treatment that is fostered by on-site programs could prove to be intense for such individuals. They undergo trauma and sometimes even ridicule that may render it hard for them to interact with their care providers in on-site programs (O Hwang, Kevin, 2). Online platforms provide a chance for such people to open up because the interactions are not as intense and direct as the ones in on-site programs. As such, the diet websites can prove to be more effective.
There is also the availability of constant feedback in online diet websites. Feedback helps to showcase progress and provides caregivers with a way forward. The monitoring of the process makes it easy for caregivers to get feedback on the progress of the patients and remind them of the importance of nutritional dieting on a constant basis. Feedback is critical in establishing a program that will work because that is the only way that can help to tell if the program is working.
In a study to find out if the online programs work, a survey was done college students who used online diet websites and those that used the on-campus available programs. The study was done for twelve weeks where the participants were subjected to nutritional diets and exercise using the two programs that have been mentioned herein. The results depicted that those who used the MBS-nutritional website showcased a higher percentage of decrease in body mass than those who attended the on-campus program (LaChausse, Robert, 3). From the experiment, the effectiveness of the programs was beyond doubt. The design methods for MBS included time management aspects, exercise schedules and monitoring, a nutrition timetable that consisted of fruits among many other things. The on-campus program was an attendance of a lecture on the same things, but was limited to that which the professor discussed.
Conclusion
References
Khaylis, Anna, Themis Yiaslas, and Jessica Bergstrom. "A Review of Efficacious Technology-Based Weight-Loss Interventions: Five Key Components." Telemedicine Journal and E-Health 16.9 (2010). Print.
LaChausse, Robert. "My Student Body: Effects of an Internet-Based Prevention Program to Decrease Obesity Among College Students." Journal of America College Health 60.4 (2012). Print.
O Hwang, Kevin. "Primary Care Providers’ Perspectives on Online Weight-Loss Programs: A Big Wish List." Journal of Medical Internet Research 14.1 (2012). JMR Publications. Web.
