The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet Book 1: sociodemographic differences and impact on weight loss and well-being in Australia

Objective: The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet (TWD) publication is an evidence-based weight management strategy utilising a structured higher protein diet as part of a nutritionally balanced lifestyle programme. Despite its popularity, the impact of TWD on weight status, weight loss and food choices of Australians was unknown. Design: An independent representative survey was conducted in 2006. Sociodemographic differences in awareness, use of TWD and the impact on weight status and well-being were investigated via computer-aided telephone interviews and web-based surveys. Setting: Australia. Subjects: A total of 5026 men and women aged 18-60 years. Results: Consumers were highly aware of TWD (66%) with personal use reported by 7.5% of the total sample (n 5026). An additional 2.5% (126 people) were members of a household that used TWD. In all, 80% of TWD purchasers actively used the eating plan with approximately 3.8% losing an average self-reported weight loss of 5.7kg (SD=1.72 kg; range=1-13 kg). Results showed that awareness was greatest among women (73.79% v. 58.27%), those over 50 years of age (69.39% v. 62.88%) with no children in the household (69.00% v. 64.88%), tertiary educated people (72.58% v. 63.22%) and those with more previous weight loss attempts (79.66% v. 70.24%). Logistic regression was unable to predict an identifiable sociodemographic profile of TWD users. Conclusions: The present study shows widespread uptake of TWD in Australia with few sociodemographic differences. Self-reported increased awareness of nutrition and well-being as well as weight loss indicates that TWD has been a successful delivery mechanism for lifestyle advice.