Results

Seventy-seven respondents completed the online pre-survey. At the end of the challenge 39 email participants completed the post-survey and we were able to match pre- to post- responses for 64% (25 out of 39).

Most participants were women both in the pre-survey (98.7%) and the post-survey (84.6%) (Table 1.1). The majority of participants were between 50 and 65 years of age (pre- 40.3%; post- 43.6%). Seventy- four percent of pre-responders and 72% of post-responders indicated they had graduated from college or university. The Body Mass Index (BMI) for 34% of pre-responders is considered normal‟. Another 33% would be considered "overweight" and the remaining 31% considered "obese".

Table 1.1: Sex of Holiday Challenge Participants

Table 1.2: Age of Holiday Challenge Participants

 Table 1.3: Level of Education of Holiday Challenge Participants

 Table 1.4: Body Mass Index of Holiday Challenge Participants

Participants were also asked about any change in weight during the previous holiday season. Half of the post-challenge respondents indicated their weight increased during the holiday season, while about twenty percent indicated they either had no change in weight or had not kept track.

Table 2.1: Self-Reported Weight change during Challenge and last holiday season (Number)

Table 2.2: Self-Reported Weight change during Challenge and last holiday season (%)

Comments made by participants who indicated they had no change in weight:

• I am a nursing mother
• Thought I would lose weight
• Walk over 50 Km a week but maintain same weight in general

 Comments made by participants who indicated they had a decrease in weight:

• I have been exercising more, and making sure to eat two or three healthy meals, plus healthy snacks every day. My energy is increasing.
• I feel better now that I am eating better
• Had better results last year to date than this year but still good
• Down 11 pounds

Comments made by participants who indicated they did not keep track:

• My pants are looser

 Comments made by participants who indicated they had an increase in weight last season:

• I was pregnant at the time
• I did not exercise as much, and ate more treats that were higher in fat and sugar. I'm trying to exercise more this year, and eat fewer of those types of treats
• Almost 8 lbs over 7 weeks
• About 4 pounds but quickly came off when I returned to normal eating

Comments made by participants who indicated they did not keep track of their weight last year:

• I will this year because I started watching and set the habit

Participants especially liked the email reminders and the encouragement they received through these emails. There was also an indication that the recipes were a favourite feature of the Holiday Challenge initiative.

Fewer comments were made by participants as to what they did not like about the challenge. A few participants did not find the material motivating. Other comments were constructive for program development, for example: wanting more recipes for two rather than four people and sending the final survey a little later.

Nutrition-related tips were offered by respondents more often than physical activity related ones. Many of the nutrition-related tips related to changing or noticing snacking habits. Physical activity strategies were kept simple and often involved walking.