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© 2018. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Objective

Minimizing program dropout is essential for weight‐loss success, but factors that influence dropout among commercial programs are unclear. This study's objective was to determine factors associated with early dropout in a commercial weight‐loss program.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of a remotely delivered, employer‐based commercial program from 2013 to 2016 was conducted. The dependent variable was ‘early dropout’, defined as enrollees who disengaged from telephone coaching by month 2's end. Independent variables included demographics, program website engagement and early weight change. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess for differences in early dropout by several factors, adjusted for employer clustering.

Results

Of the 5,274 participants, 26.8% dropped out early. Having ≥1 chronic condition (odds ratio [OR] 1.41, p < 0.001) and ‘weight‐loss failure’ defined as ≥0% weight change at month 1's end (OR 1.86, p < 0.001) had significantly increased odds of early dropout. Increasing age by 10‐year intervals (OR 0.90, p = 0.002) and ‘meeting the website login goal’ defined as ≥90 logins in 3 months (OR 0.13, p < 0.001) significantly decreased the odds of early dropout.

Conclusions

Presence of comorbidities, less online engagement and weight‐loss failure were associated with early dropout in a commercial program. Strategies to prevent dropout among high‐risk participants, such as increased support or program tailoring, should be developed and tested.

Details

Title
Factors associated with early dropout in an employer‐based commercial weight‐loss program
Author
Alexander, E 1 ; Tseng, E 2 ; Durkin, N 3 ; Jerome, G J 4 ; Dalcin, A 2 ; Appel, L J 5 ; Clark, J M 5 ; Gudzune, K A 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Health Policy and Management, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA 
 Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; The Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Baltimore, MD, USA 
 The Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Baltimore, MD, USA 
 The Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Kinesiology, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA 
 Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; The Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA 
Pages
545-553
Section
Original Articles
Publication year
2018
Publication date
Dec 2018
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
e-ISSN
20552238
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2314492126
Copyright
© 2018. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.