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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03236077

Increasing Exercise Enjoyment and Outcome Expectations Among Women With Obesity

Despite decades of physical activity (PA) research on inactive, obese individuals, we have not successfully moved the needle on exercise participation in this population. A recent review aptly referred to PA recommendations among obese individuals as "the public health guideline that is (almost) entirely ignored"[1]. While we have previously had little understanding of why PA rates are so low in this population, Dr. Leone's research uncovered two possible explanations: (1) women with obesity are less likely to report enjoying exercise and (2) more likely than non-obese women to report exercising only when they are trying to lose weight. In order to affect change among obese women, we need interventions that not only address disparities in enjoyment and outcome expectations. Programs must also be practical and scalable; however, these types of evidence-based programs do not exist within the context that people generally exercise (e.g., community centers, gyms). We propose a novel approach to increasing exercise participation in this population by focusing on exercise enjoyment, increasing appreciation of the proximal benefits of PA rather than focusing on weight, and addressing changes to the exercise environment that make it conducive to this population. By delivering our intervention in partnership with the YMCA, we not only have the ability to make changes to a typical exercise context, but we also ensure that our findings can be used to help exercise-focused community organizations implement a scalable, research-tested program.

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Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

18 year–64 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York, 14222, United States

About this study

This is a pilot intervention study with two groups: an intervention group (targeted exercise program for women with obesity and YMCA membership) and a control group (YMCA membership only). The targeted exercise program will be delivered by a YMCA and will be evaluated by our team. The majority of women who are recruited to this study will be randomized to receive the intervention or the control condition. However, we also have a small group of women who has been serving as our community advisory committee (CAC) that will also participate in the intervention classes and receive the membership. They will serve as pilot testers for our data collection methods and provide ongoing qualitative feedback on the intervention as part of their role in the CAC.

The study will take place in two phases at two different YMCAs (Ken-Ton and Independent Health) with approximately half of participants recruited for the first and the other half for the second.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Female
  • Aged 18-64
  • BMI ≥ 30 (self-reported for initial screening and confirmed at informational session using direct measurement)
  • Not currently participating in any regularly scheduled exercise (see definition in eligibility screener)
  • Willing to come to the Ken-Ton YMCA 2-3x/week (Phase 1) or the Independent Health YMCA (Phase 2)

Exclusion criteria

  • - Participants may not be pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next 6 months
  • Individuals with disabilities or health conditions that render them unable to participate in exercise or for whom exercise might be dangerous based on their answers to the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire or advisement form their physician

Treatment and study plan

Fit and Fab

Behavioral

participate in a targeted exercise program at the YMCA. Will include: Targeted exercise classes, Strength-training, Group support sessions

Primary outcomes

  1. YMCA attendance

    Time frame: 3 motnhs

    YMCA attendance measured by swipes of member card

Secondary outcomes

  1. MVPA

    Time frame: 3 months

    Minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous exercise measured via accelerometer

Other outcomes

  1. Exercise Enjoyment

    Time frame: 3 months

    Report greater enjoyment and acceptability of the exercise measured by the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University at Buffalo

Other

Collaborators

  • Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Aug 1, 2017
Registry last updated
Jul 15, 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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