Using Tailored Messages to Encourage Healthy Lifestyle Choices in a Brief, Self-directed Intervention

Participant were weighed by study staff during a baseline measurement session (M = 153.7 lb, SD = 31.6) and then again after 6 months (M = 149.9 lb, SD = 28.9). Weight was self-reported at 3 months (M = 150.7 lb, SD = 29.4).

Participants were asked about the number of times in a typical week they 1) ate breakfast, 2) ate lunch, and 3) ate dinner. They responded on a 5-point scale: 0 times, 1-2 times, 3-4 times, 5-6 times, or 7+ times. Mean scores were created for the baseline measurement session (M = 4.00, SD = .73) and for the 3-month measurement session (M = 4.17, SD = .72).

Participants were asked about the number of times in a typical week they 1) ate food prepared at a fast-food restaurant and 2) purchased food at a convenience store/ gas station. They responded on a 5-point scale: 0 times, 1-2 times, 3-4 times, 5-6 times, or 7+ times. Mean scores were created for the baseline measurement session (M = 1.74, SD = .66) and for the 3-month measurement session (M = 1.63, SD = .53).

Participants indicated the frequency per week that they 1) ate a meal while watching TV, 2) ate a snack while watching TV, and 3) ate after 8 pm. The participants responded by using a 5-point scale: 0 times, 1-2 time, 3-4 times, 5-6 times, or 7+ times. They also indicated the number of hours on an average day that they 4) use a phone/tablet/computer, 5) watch TV and 6) sit or recline (not including sleeping). Their responses were recorded on a 7-point scale: 0, <1 hour, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, or 5+ hours. Mean scores across the six items were calculated for the baseline measurement session (M = 3.44, SD = .90) and the 3-month measurement session (M = 3.34, SD = .90).

Dietary modification was measured by asking participants how often they 1) reduced/limited their portions, 2) decreased/limited snacks, 3) decreased/limited sweets, 4) decreased/limited fried food, 5) decreased/limited carbs, 6) decreased/limited fat, 7) ate fruits and vegetables, and 8) planned meals. Participants responded on a 5-point scale: never, rarely, sometimes, often, or very often. Mean scores were calculated for the baseline measurement session (M = 2.96, SD = 0.74) and for the 3-month measurement session (M = 3.32, SD = 0.73).

For self-monitoring, participants were asked how often they wrote down the calorie content of the foods they ate and the amount and types of exercise they did. Participants responded on a 5-point scale: never, rarely, sometimes, often, or very often. Mean scores were then calculated for the baseline measurement session (M = 1.86, SD = 1.03) and for the 3-month measurement session (M = 2.85, SD = 1.26).

At baseline, participants responded to the question "How often do you weigh yourself?" on a 7-point scale: never, about once a year or less, every couple of months, every month, every week, every day, or more than once a day (M = 3.83, SD = 1.31). At 3 months, they responded to the question "In the past week, how many times did you weigh yourself?" on a 5-point scale: never, 1-2 times, 3-4 times, 5-6 times, or 7 or more times (M = 2.01, SD = 1.02).

To measure physical activity, participants were asked how often they 1) planned their exercise, 2) walked for at least 30 minutes at a time, and 3) engaged in other moderate to vigorous exercise. Participants responded on a 5-point scale: never, rarely, sometimes, often, or very often. Mean scores were calculated for the baseline measurement session (M = 3.31, SD = .94) and for the 3-month measurement session (M = 3.55, SD = 1.08).