Weight-Related Goal Setting in a Telephone-Based Preventive Health-Coaching Program Demonstration of Effectiveness

Purpose:This study investigated whether participants in a 6-month telephone-based coaching program, who set physical activity, nutrition, and weight loss goals had better outcomes in these domains.Design:Quasi-experimental design.Setting:The Australian Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service (GHS), a free population-wide telephone health-coaching service that includes goal setting as a key component of its coaching program.Participants:Consenting GHS coaching participants who had completed coaching between February 2009 and December 2012 (n = 4108).Measures:At baseline, participants select a goal for the coaching program, and sociodemographic variables are collected. Self-reported weight, height, waist circumference, physical activity, and nutrition-related behaviors are assessed at baseline and 6 months.Analysis:Descriptive analysis was performed on key sociodemographic variables, and the relationship between goal type and change in health outcomes was assessed using a series of linear mixed models ...