In a new study, getting some one-on-one time with a weight-loss counselor, either in person or over the phone, helped rural women shed pounds better than just reading weight-loss educational materials alone. Rates of obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and chronic disease are higher in rural areas than in cities, but little research has been done to determine what strategies might help. The new study found that the phone and in-person consultations were comparable, which suggests that phone interventions, which are cheaper, could be a cost-effective weight-loss treatment for people who live in remote areas.
Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, Nov. 24, 2008