Private MD News

Computer-based dietary intervention programs may not change people's habits

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

People who have received unhealthy cholesterol tests are increasingly turning to online sources for information about their condition. In particular, many people are looking for dietary advice. However, a new study suggests that online dieting programs may do little to help individuals control their cholesterol.

For the study, a team of researchers from the Netherlands tracked the health of 442 individuals using online resources to help improve their diets and control their cholesterol levels. The results, which were published in the Journal Nutrition Education and Behavior, showed that these individuals made few improvements in their heart health.

"Computer-tailored intervention with a single dose aimed at reduction of (saturated) fat intake was not sufficient to produce detectable changes in blood lipids in the current study," the researchers concluded in their report.

The team said computer-based dietary intervention programs may still be a viable option for helping people improve their diets and lower their cholesterol, but more research needs to be conducted to develop a better understanding of what works best in these types of initiatives.