Vtrim

Vtrim is an online behavioral weight management program developed from research conducted at the University of Vermont. The program was founded by Dr. Jean Harvey-Berino, a nutritionist and the Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Vermont, who specializes in technology-based behavioral weight management. Her work led to the creation of Vtrim, which was initially offered to Vermonters and the university community starting in 2004 before expanding. A significant milestone was a $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health in 2005 to help develop and test the effectiveness of the internet-based program. In 2011, Vtrim became a private company, Vtrim Online Solutions, when Krista Conley Lincoln licensed the concept from UVM to expand its reach nationally to corporations, hospitals, and insurers.

The company provides a structured, fee-based weight loss service rooted in behavioral therapy. It targets individuals, corporate wellness programs, and university students seeking to manage their weight. The business model is based on upfront payments for its programs, as research indicated this improves adherence and success rates. The core offering consists of therapist-led, 12 or 24-week online courses that focus on changing eating and exercise habits through behavior modification. Participants are placed in small online groups of 15-20 people with a dedicated facilitator, fostering peer support and accountability.

The Vtrim program includes weekly online group meetings at scheduled times, where a specific topic related to health behavior is discussed. Key features of the service include tools for self-monitoring, such as a daily food and exercise journal, a recipe-builder, and a calorie counter. The curriculum covers subjects like reading food labels, stress management, and relapse prevention, aiming to empower users to make sustainable lifestyle changes. Unlike self-paced programs, Vtrim's structured schedule and facilitator guidance are designed to keep participants engaged. Clinical studies have shown that Vtrim participants lose significantly more weight than those in self-help online programs. The program also offers a monthly maintenance phase for those who have completed the initial courses.

Keywords: behavioral weight management, online weight loss program, University of Vermont, Jean Harvey-Berino, corporate wellness, health behavior modification, facilitated weight loss, online group support, nutrition education, exercise tracking, calorie counter, structured weight loss, relapse prevention, Vtrim I, Vtrim II, workplace wellness, university wellness program, evidence-based weight loss, lifestyle change program, digital health