Pounds Off Digitally (POD): The Use of Podcasting and Mobile Media to Promote Weight Loss

Overweight and obesity play a role in both cancer incidence and survival rates. Many people have found attending weight loss support groups to be time-intensive. Past research has shown electronic media, particularly the Web, to be effective in producing weight loss. The Web, however, lacks portability, which prevents people from accessing the information when it is convenient for them. Providing weight loss information via podcasting (audio files that may be listened to on portable audio players) may allow people to receive weight loss tips anywhere. A previous research study showed that podcasts emphasizing healthy eating and exercise can help people lose weight. This study was short-term and did not include additional social support. The purpose of this research project is to assess the effectiveness of a weight loss intervention delivered through podcasts as compared to the same podcast with added mobile media such as self-monitoring software (such as a pedometer) and support delivered via a social networking site. For this research study, the investigators will conduct a 6-month study in 104 overweight adults to determine if a podcast plus mobile media support leads to greater weight loss than a podcast alone.

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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–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

UNC-Chapel Hill Weight Research Center

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

be between the ages of 18-60 years old
be a non-smoker
live in the Chapel Hill, NC area
be able to attend monitoring visits at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months
have access to the Internet and a computer
have access to an Internet-capable mobile device (such as an iPhone, iPod Touch, or Blackberry) and an MP3 player (this may be the same device)
have access to a scale for self-monitoring weight
be willing to be randomized to either group
be free of psychiatric diseases, drug or alcohol dependency, or uncontrolled thyroid conditions
be free of major health conditions, such as heart conditions, diabetes, and past incidence of stroke
have MD consent for participation if currently on blood pressure medications, have issues with dizziness, or have bone or joint issues.
able to prepare all their own meals (i.e. not living on-campus)

Exclusion criteria

should not be pregnant, anticipating on becoming pregnant in the next 7 months, or currently breastfeeding
be free of an eating disorder as screened by the Eating disorder Screen for Primary care [ESP].
no current participation in a weight loss program or taking weight loss medications (although participants may be trying to lose weight on their own)
have not participated in previous podcasting weight loss research

Treatment and study plan

Podcasting + mobile media

Behavioral

Use of a weight loss podcast designed with health behavior theory

Primary outcomes

Weight loss

Time frame: 6 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Use of Podcasting and Mobile Media to Promote Weight Loss and Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Overweight Adults

Acronym: POD

Important dates

Study start: 2010
Primary completion: 2011
Study completion: 2011
First posted: Jun 8, 2010
Registry last updated: Jun 6, 2011

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