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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05715242

Ignite Pilot: Goal Setting in a Digital Weight Loss Intervention

The goal of this pilot trial is to learn about the optimal intensity level of goals in a digital weight loss intervention among adults with overweight or obesity. The main questions of the study are to assess the feasibility and acceptability of different goal intensities across four domains (calorie goal, step goal, eating window goal, red zone food goal).

The investigators will recruit 32 total participants to the trial. Recruitment will occur through remote channels. Interested individuals will be directed to an online screening questionnaire; those who are eligible will then be invited to attend an initial remote session with study personnel to ensure interest and eligibility in the study. The weight loss intervention will last 10 weeks, and all participants will receive a "core" treatment consisting of self-monitoring weight, food intake, and steps (all via digital tools provided by the study team), along with behavioral lessons, action plans, and tailored feedback. Depending on which group participants are assigned to in the study, individuals will receive either a more or less challenging goal across the four domains. All study tasks will occur remotely, thus, participants will never come in-person for any tasks. Assessment of body weight and other measures will occur at the beginning of the trial ("baseline"), and at 4 weeks and 10 weeks.

The investigators will use the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework to identify which of the goal intensity levels result in meaningful engagement and weight loss. The current study is the first step towards answering this question; it is designed as a pilot factorial trial, which focuses on feasibility and acceptability. In total, there will be 16 treatment conditions.

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Key information

Conditions

Obesity Behavior Body Weight Body Weight Changes Fasting Feeding Behavior Health Behavior Intermittent Fasting Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Weight Loss

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Stanford University School of Medicine

Palo Alto, California, 94304, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • adults (ages 18+ years)
  • body mass index (BMI) 25.0 to 45.0 kg/m^2
  • smartphone ownership
  • willingness to install the Fitbit mobile app on their phone
  • access to a personal email account
  • English language proficiency
  • interest in losing weight through behavioral strategies
  • living in the United States

Exclusion criteria

  • concurrent enrollment in another weight management intervention
  • loss of ≥10 lbs. in the past 6 months
  • current use of a weight loss medication
  • prior or planned bariatric surgery
  • current or planned pregnancy in the trial period
  • currently breastfeeding
  • lives with someone else participating in the study
  • hospitalization for a mental health condition in the past 12 months
  • inability to engage in moderate forms of physical activity akin to brisk walking (assessed by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire)
  • if weight loss is contraindicated or might be impacted by a condition or medication (e.g., end stage renal disease, cancer, schizophrenia, dementia, steroids, anti-psychotics)
  • if an individual would be better suited for a more intensive or different type of intervention based on a health condition (e.g., individuals with history of an eating disorder or cardiovascular event, uncontrolled hypertension, or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus)
  • investigator discretion for safety reasons

Treatment and study plan

Core Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention

Behavioral

All participants will receive a 10-week core behavioral weight loss treatment consisting of: self-monitoring weight, steps, and food intake; behavioral lessons; action plans; and tailored feedback. The intervention will be delivered remotely via email and digital tools (such as a smart scale, Fitbit activity tracker, and Fitbit app).

Easier Step Goal

Behavioral

Participants will receive an easier daily step goal.

Harder Step Goal

Behavioral

Participants will receive a more challenging daily step goal.

Easier Calorie Goal

Behavioral

Participants will receive an easier daily calorie goal.

Harder Calorie Goal

Behavioral

Participants will receive a more challenging daily calorie goal.

Easier Eating Window Goal

Behavioral

Participants will receive an easier daily eating window goal.

Harder Eating Window Goal

Behavioral

Participants will receive a more challenging daily eating window goal, akin to time-restricted eating.

Easier Red Zone Food Goal

Behavioral

Participants will receive an easier daily Red Zone Food goal.

Harder Red Zone Food Goal

Behavioral

Participants will receive a more challenging daily Red Zone Food goal.

Primary outcomes

  1. (Feasibility) Engagement in Self-monitoring Body Weight

    Time frame: baseline to 10 weeks

    average percentage of days in the 10-week intervention of self-monitoring weight (assessed objectively via smart scale); a benchmark of self-monitoring 75% of days would indicate feasibility

  2. (Feasibility) Engagement in Self-monitoring Steps

    Time frame: baseline to 10 weeks

    average percentage of days in the 10-week intervention of self-monitoring steps (assessed objectively via Fitbit activity tracker); a benchmark of self-monitoring 75% of days would indicate feasibility

  3. (Feasibility) Engagement in Self-monitoring Dietary Intake

    Time frame: baseline to 10 weeks

    average percentage of days in the 10-week intervention of self-monitoring dietary intake (assessed via Fitbit mobile app); a benchmark of self-monitoring 75% of days would indicate feasibility

  4. (Acceptability) Would You Recommend the Weight Loss Program to a Friend Who is Trying to Lose Weight?

    Time frame: 10 weeks

    1-item measure; a benchmark of 80% of participants answering "yes" would indicate acceptability

Secondary outcomes

  1. (Feasibility) Retention Rate

    Time frame: 10 weeks

    the proportion of participants who submitted a weight entry at 10 weeks; a benchmark of 80% would indicate feasibility

  2. (Feasibility) Survey Completion Rate

    Time frame: baseline; 10 weeks

    the proportion of participants who completed the web survey; a benchmark of 80% would indicate feasibility

  3. (Feasibility) Goal Attainment of Calorie Goal

    Time frame: baseline to 10 weeks

    average percentage of days in the 10-week intervention of meeting the daily calorie goal (assessed via Fitbit mobile app); a benchmark of 75% of days would indicate feasibility

  4. (Feasibility) Goal Attainment of Step Goal

    Time frame: baseline to 10 weeks

    average percentage of days in the 10-week intervention of meeting the daily step goal (assessed via Fitbit activity tracker); a benchmark of 75% of days would indicate feasibility

  5. (Feasibility) Goal Attainment of Eating Window Goal

    Time frame: baseline to 10 weeks

    average percentage of days in the 10-week intervention of meeting the daily eating window goal (assessed via survey); a benchmark of 75% of days would indicate feasibility

  6. (Feasibility) Goal Attainment of Red Zone Food Goal

    Time frame: baseline to 10 weeks

    average percentage of days (out of days instructed to track Red Zone Foods) in the 10-week intervention of meeting the daily Red Zone Food goal (assessed via survey); a benchmark of 75% of weeks would indicate feasibility

  7. Weight

    Time frame: baseline to 10 weeks

    percentage change in weight from baseline to 10 weeks (end of intervention); assessed objectively via smart scale

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Stanford University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Registry information

Official study title

Goal Setting in a Standalone, Digital Weight Loss Intervention: a Pilot Factorial Trial

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Feb 6, 2023
Registry last updated
May 16, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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