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A behavioral treatment program for obesity was implemented using an interactive microcomputer system small enough to be carried by subjects throughout their normal daily routines. Treatment effects observed in 6 subjects who received this experimental treatment were compared with those observed in 6 matched control subjects who received a similar treatment program implemented without computer assistance. Mean weight loss after the 8 postbaseline study weeks was 8.1 Ib (3.7 kg; SD = 2.7 Ib or 1.2 kg) for the experimental subjects compared with 3.3 Ib (1.5 kg; SD = 3.2 Ib or 1.5 kg) for the control subjects. Mean weight loss at 8 months posttreatment was 17.7 Ib (8.0 kg; SD = 13.8 Ib or 6.3 kg) for the experimental subjects compared with 2.3 Ib (1.0 kg; SD = 7.3 Ib or 3.3 kg) for the control subjects. Ambulatory computer-assisted therapy provides important new opportunities for conducting behavior therapy and research in real-life settings.

Our study showed no dose-response effect of walking exercise on weight loss over diet alone. Both lower and higher volume metabolic fitness prescriptions resulted in similar and significant beneficial changes in several HRV. This data suggests that 30 min of walking on most days of the week may be as beneficial as 60 min (in combination with diet) in promoting numerous additional healthful outcomes over diet alone following a 12 week weight loss program.