Effects of Group Counseling Transmitted Through Videoconferencing on Changes in Eating Behaviors

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of constructivism-based dietary group counseling transmitted through videoconferencing (VC) and face-to-face (FF) counseling on changes in eating behaviors.

Methods: Altogether, 74 participants with high risk of type 2 diabetes were divided into FF and VC groups based on their place of residence in northern Finland. Constructivism-based dietary group counseling, a nonrandomized intervention, was performed (evaluations at 0, 6, and 21 months). The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-18 was used to evaluate cognitive restraint eating (CR), emotional eating (EE), and uncontrolled eating (UE). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and ANCOVA (significance level of 0.05).

Results: Cognitive restraint eating increased and UE decreased between baseline and 6 months in both groups, but between baseline and 21 months only in the FF group (P = .005 and P = .021, respectively). Emotional eating decreased only in the VC group (P = .016). There were no differences between groups at 6 or 21 months.

Conclusions and implications: Constructivism-based counseling delivered through videoconferencing was effective at improving eating behaviors.

Keywords: cognitive restraint; constructivism-based group counseling; emotional eating; uncontrolled eating; videoconferencing.