Improving Behavioral Weight Loss Via Electronic Handheld Device

Standard behavioral treatment (SBT) for obesity is often effective, but weight losses are highly variable, and patients sometimes fail to achieve a "successful" weight loss of 5-10% of their starting weight. It has been suggested that the "one size fits all" approach of SBT may be responsible for many treatment failures because the intervention is not sufficiently tailored to address the unique needs of each patient. Moreover, treatment is delivered in the clinic, not in the settings and the times when it is needed most. The primary aim of the proposed research is to develop and pilot test a behavioral weight loss intervention that combines in-person sessions with treatment delivered via an electronic handheld device to provide highly individualized weight loss treatment in patients' natural environment. In a critical departure from previous research using cell phone technology, the portion of intervention that is delivered via handheld device will be of equal sophistication and importance to the portion of the intervention that is delivered in face-to-face treatment sessions. The proposed study seeks to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an individually tailored behavioral weight loss program that integrates clinic-based care and smartphone technology.

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Key information

Conditions

Obesity Body Weight Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Weight Control and Diabetes Resarch Center

Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Body Mass Index (kg/m2) of 30-45.
English language fluency
Basic familiarity with cell phone technology
Ability to read at a 6th grade level
Availability to attend weekly treatment sessions in Providence, RI

Exclusion criteria

Any heart condition that limits ability to participate in physical activity
Chest Pain
Any cognitive of physical limitation that would preclude use of a smartphone
Serious mental illness
Historical or current eating disorder
Previous or planned bariatric surgery
Use of weight loss medication
Recent pregnancy or a plan to become pregnant in the next 6 months
Participation in a study at the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center within the last two years
A weight loss of greater than 5% body weight in the last 6 months

Treatment and study plan

Lifestyle Counseling

Behavioral

Participants receive instructions for making healthy changes to their diet and physical activity habits.

Primary outcomes

Weight

Time frame: Baseline and weekly for 24-weeks.

Participants' body weight measured in kg.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Miriam Hospital

Other

Collaborators

The Obesity Society

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2010
Primary completion: 2012
Study completion: 2012
First posted: Nov 16, 2010
Registry last updated: Apr 7, 2015

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed