The effect of phone and video counselling given to participants living with obesity on weight loss and quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Although remote dietary counselling practices have increased in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not known which method is more effective. This study aimed to determine the effect of diet counselling by phone or video on weight loss and to compare it with the traditional follow-up method. Methods: Forty-six participants living with obesity were randomised into the phone counselling (n = 15), video counselling (n = 15), and traditional follow-up groups (n = 16), and were followed for 10 weeks. The anthropometric measurements, quality-of-life questionnaire (SF-36) scores and total calorie/macronutrient intakes were recorded and compared at baseline and at the end of the study. Results: In the phone counselling, video counselling and traditional follow-up groups body weight (−4.8 ± 0.9, −5.7 ± 1.8 and −3.3 ± 0.8 kg, respectively) and SF-36 general health scores (14.2 ± 4.2, 15.9 ± 3.6 and 10.2 ± 3.7, respectively) of the participants changed significantly compared to baseline (group × time interaction, p < 0.05). The change in the body weight and SF-36 general health score was more in the phone counselling and video counselling groups relative to the traditional follow-up group (group × time interaction, p < 0.01). The highest decrease in total calorie (−301.4 ± 112.2 kcal) and carbohydrate (−26.6 ± 11.2 g) intake was in the video counselling group compared to the other groups (group × time interaction, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Video counselling and phone counselling were effective in weight loss in the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to maintain remote dietary counselling practices to support weight management when face-to-face meetings are not possible.