CONSORT-EHEALTH Checklist V1.6.2 Report

1b-i) Key features/functionalities/components of the intervention and comparator in the METHODS section of the ABSTRACT "Participants were randomly allocated to one of the following two groups, lasting 24 weeks : (1) intervention group that included automatic tailored text messages given every other day and four off line education sessions about weight control during 6 months ; (2) control group that received four off line education sessions about weight control during 6 months " 1b-ii) Level of human involvement in the METHODS section of the ABSTRACT "included automatic tailored text messages given every other day and four off line education" 1b-iii) Open vs. closed, web-based (self-assessment) vs. face-to-face assessments in the METHODS section of the ABSTRACT "Men with body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) more than 25 were recruited from Korea district heating corporation, Korea expressway corporation and Korea gas corporation recommended by healthcare managing nurses. " 1b-iv) RESULTS section in abstract must contain use data "A total of 205 obese men were randomized into intervention group (n=104) or control group (n=101). At the end of 6 months, the intervention group (n=63 ) lost 1.7 kg (SE 0.4) and control group (n=59) lost 1.6 kg (SE 0.5) " 1b-v) CONCLUSIONS/DISCUSSION in abstract for negative trials "Automatic tailored text messages did not take significant effects on weight loss in obese men. Lack of interactive tools such as social network services with tailored feedbacks may be the main cause of negative result in automatic text messaging in worksite weight loss program. " INTRODUCTION 2a-i) Problem and the type of system/solution "Usually development and implementation of worksite weight management program needs sufficient resources including financial, time, staff and space. Also there are reported barriers to participation[11,12] in worksite program, which includes insufficient incentives, inconvenient locations, and time limitations. Using text messages in worksite weight management program can be a useful method to overcome with time, location and cost barriers. There are some studies using telephone coaching[13] or online based weight management[14] in worksite weight management but no studies have been reported regarding the effect of text messaging on weight loss in worksite weight management program. " 2a-ii) Scientific background, rationale: What is known about the (type of) system "Use of text messaging in health behavior change[8-10] has been more and more adopted not only because of wide availability, inexpensiveness, instant effects on users but also of its effectiveness in some health behavior changes. " METHODS 3a) CONSORT: Description of trial design (such as parallel, factorial) including allocation ratio "So we conducted a 6 month randomized controlled trial if using automatic tailored text message service would be a more effective way of losing weight loss compared with standard care in worksite weight management program. " 3b) CONSORT: Important changes to methods after trial commencement (such as eligibility criteria), with reasons "No methodological changes were done during the study period. " 3b-i) Bug fixes, Downtimes, Content Changes 4a) CONSORT: Eligibility criteria for participants "Participants were recruited in 2011 from 3 public institutions, Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), Korea District Heating Corporation (KDHC), and Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) with a help of healthcare managing nurses. The nurses screened potential participants for meeting the following inclusion criteria: age between 20 and 60 years old, obesity by body mass index more than 25, not taking medications known to cause weight gain, and owns a mobile phone and uses text messaging services. " 4a-i) Computer / Internet literacy We did not use the computer or internet. 4a-ii) Open vs. closed, web-based vs. face-to-face assessments: "Participants who are eligible for this study were invited to participate in this program by the study coordinator after finishing their annual health examination in a hospital. " 4a-iii) Information giving during recruitment "Participants who are eligible for this study were invited to participate in this program by the study coordinator after finishing their annual health examination in a hospital. " 4b) CONSORT: Settings and locations where the data were collected "Participants were recruited in 2011 from 3 public institutions, Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), Korea District Heating Corporation (KDHC), and Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) with a help of healthcare managing nurses.Participants who are eligible for this study were invited to participate in this program by the study coordinator after finishing their annual health examination in a hospital. The study took place between May 2011 to December 2011 in Seongnam, Korea. " 4b-i) Report if outcomes were (self-)assessed through online questionnaires "Research group visited worksite and provided group educational sessions with printed materials for management of obesity and feedback by self reported questionnaires at baseline, 1 month, 3 month and 6 month. Printed materials were different in every educational session according to the topic issued. Nurses were checking weight, brief counseling about weight loss tips and encouraging participation in this program every month. "