The University of Newcastle, Australia

Researchers from the University of Newcastle are calling for volunteers to take part in an innovative new approach to help women maintain healthy eating and activity patterns.

Female University staff and students are invited to register for an internet-based weight loss program that uses an online diary to track progress.

PhD student Melinda Neve, from the Faculty of Health, said the web-based program was a new treatment approach to a major public health issue.

"So many women are juggling work, family commitments and study and find it difficult to go to group-based weight loss programs," Ms Neve said.

"With obesity rates increasing a weight loss program that fits in with busy lifestyles is needed."

The program uses internet-based technology to monitor food intake and activity in a diary format.

"Previous research has shown that keeping track of what you eat and the activity you do makes people more aware of their eating and activity patterns and can lead to greater weight loss, especially in the long term," Ms Neve said.

"One aspect of the research will be to find out how accurately women are recording what they eat and what exercise they are doing using the online diary method."

Researchers are specifically targeting female University staff and students who have a body mass index between 27 and 30 to take part in the study.

Anyone interested should contact Melinda Neve.