1. Introduction
obesity, Obesity, hypertension
OBESITY, OBESITY, OBESE, HYPERTENSION, DISEASES
(1) Background: The ‘Living Better’ web-based programme has shown short- and long-term benefits for body composition and psychological variables in obese patients with hypertension by promoting a healthier lifestyle. To further explore the potential of this programme, in this work we aimed to explore the possible effect of the patient’s ‘own doctor’ appearing in the video content of the Living Better intervention. (2) Methods: A total of 132 patients were randomly assigned either to the experimental (EG, The prevalence of obesity has increased nearly threefold over the past few decades, creating a significant burden not only on individuals’ health but also on society as a whole. Obesity has become a global pandemic [The international guidelines specialising in obesity [Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have examined the use of technology and the internet in treating obesity and hypertension and have found that online interventions promoting healthy lifestyles can effectively improve body weight and/or blood pressure levels [To take this research further, in this current study we aimed to explore the possible effect of the patients’ ‘own doctor’ appearing in all the videos of the Living Better programme. Using video modelling, which involves the demonstration of desired behaviours, outcomes, and attitudes through active visual representations by an actor, is considered an effective way to educate and guide patients through behavioural interventions, even among people with low levels of literacy [Therefore, although to date we are not aware of previous studies that have analysed the possible effect of the audiovisual presence of a therapist (psychologist, doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, or nutritionist, etc.) in online interventions designed to prevent or treat diseases, it is plausible that their presence may improve patients’ motivation to change their eating habits and attitudes towards PA. This change would also bring about a change in lifestyle itself (eating habits and PA levels) and by extension, body composition. Considering all the above, the aim of this present research was to analyse the influence exerted by the identity of the main doctor appearing in the audiovisual content of the Living Better web-based intervention on patients with the obesity–hypertension phenotype in terms of the following variables: body mass index (BMI), PA levels, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, motivation towards PA, motivation to change eating habits, and eating style. We hypothesised that patients who saw their own doctor giving them the indications would attain greater benefits in the different variables analysed than those in the ‘unknown doctor’ control group.