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NCT Number: NCT05710510

Rural Engagement in TelemedTeam for Options in Obesity Treatment Solutions

The purpose of this study is to compare two methods for managing obesity in rural primary care patients. The first method includes quarterly 1:1 meetings with the participant and their primary care provider and the second includes a group lifestyle intervention over Zoom paired with quarterly team meetings with the participant, their primary care provider and their lifestyle coach, the coach joining via Zoom. Investigators will evaluate which method is best at helping participants lose weight over 18 months.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

20 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Kansas Medical Center

Kansas City, Missouri, 66160, United States

About this study

Obesity increases risk for 13 types of cancer and now affects over 40% of the U.S. adult population, with even higher prevalence among rural Americans. Rural residents often lack access to weight control programs and food and physical activity resources that promote healthy lifestyles, especially in small or remote rural areas. It is important for obesity treatment to be offered in rural primary care, yet local resources are often lacking. Medical management by a primary care provider (PCP) during behavioral weight loss is essential to address co-morbid medical conditions, evaluate obesogenic medications, and explore options for guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy and surgical treatment. This study is designed to enhance sustainable access to obesity treatment in rural communities by offering education to local providers on obesity management and integrating team-based care into an obesity treatment model through telemedicine.

The two methods of obesity treatment to be studied are:

  • Local Care + Arm: Quarterly clinic visits with the participants and their local primary care provider
  • Team Care Arm: An intensive group lifestyle intervention offered by a lifestyle coach via Zoom, paired with quarterly clinic visits with the participant, their local primary care provider and the lifestyle coach, the coach joining via telemedicine.

Participants will be in the study about 18 months. Participants in the Local Care + arm will be asked to complete 4 data collection visits and 6 quarterly clinic visits. Participants in the Team Care arm will be asked to complete 4 data collection visits, 30 counseling sessions and 6 quarterly clinic visits.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • BMI: >= 30 kg/m2
  • Rural resident
  • English speaking
  • Physician clearance to participate
  • Able to walk without assistance
  • Seen at least once in their primary care clinic within the past year
  • Internet access or smart phone (to access smart scale for weight measurement)

Exclusion criteria

  • History of myocardial infarction within last six months
  • History of stroke within last six months
  • History of new cancer diagnosis within last six months
  • History of bariatric surgery within the last two years
  • Pregnancy within last 6 months or planned within the next 18 months
  • Currently breastfeeding
  • End stage renal disease, currently on dialysis, or anticipated dialysis or renal transplant within the next 18 months
  • End stage liver disease, or anticipated liver transplant within the next 18 months
  • Currently enrolled or planning to enroll in another study where weight loss is targeted or weight fluctuation is expected
  • Currently planning to move outside of current provider area, or leave primary care clinic within the next 18 months
  • Another household member is already participating in the study

Treatment and study plan

Local Care + Model

Behavioral

Local primary care providers receive training in medical management of obesity prior to the start of the participant intervention.

Participants receive 6 quarterly clinic visits with their local primary care provider focused on medical management of obesity.

Team Care Model

Behavioral

Local primary care providers receive training in medical management of obesity prior to the start of the participant intervention.

Participants receive an intensive 18-month group lifestyle intervention (30 total sessions) led by a study lifestyle coach via Zoom, and 6 quarterly 1:1 visits via Zoom with their lifestyle coach. Participants also receive 6 quarterly clinic visits with their local primary care provider; the study lifestyle coach joins the visits via telemedicine. All three parties may meet via telemedicine if needed. The group lifestyle intervention is led by obesity treatment specialists with relevant graduate training and experience.

Primary outcomes

  1. Percent weight loss at 18 months

    Time frame: 18 months

    Mean percent weight loss at 18 months; unadjusted

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percent weight loss at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    Mean percent weight loss at 6 months; unadjusted

  2. Percent weight loss at 12 months

    Time frame: 12 months

    Mean percent weight loss at 12 months; unadjusted

  3. Weight loss (kg) at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    Mean weight loss (kg) at 6 months; unadjusted

  4. Weight loss (kg) at 12 months

    Time frame: 12 months

    Mean weight loss (kg) at 12 months; unadjusted

  5. Weight loss (kg) at 18 months

    Time frame: 18 months

    Mean weight loss (kg) at 18 months; unadjusted

  6. Proportion achieving ≥5% weight loss at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    Proportion achieving ≥5% weight loss at 6 months; unadjusted

  7. Proportion achieving ≥5% weight loss at 12 months

    Time frame: 12 months

    Proportion achieving ≥5% weight loss at 12 months; unadjusted

  8. Proportion achieving ≥5% weight loss at 18 months

    Time frame: 18 months

    Proportion achieving ≥5% weight loss at 18 months; unadjusted

  9. Proportion achieving ≥10% weight loss at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    Proportion achieving ≥10% weight loss at 6 months; unadjusted

  10. Proportion achieving ≥10% weight loss at 12 months

    Time frame: 12 months

    Proportion achieving ≥10% weight loss at 12 months; unadjusted

  11. Proportion achieving ≥10% weight loss at 18 months

    Time frame: 18 months

    Proportion achieving ≥10% weight loss at 18 months; unadjusted

  12. Change in diet quality at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months

    Mean change in diet quality, measured by Rapid Eating Assessment for Participant--Shortened Version (REAPS) at 6 months; unadjusted. The REAPS estimates diet quality through 13 items which assess weekly eating habits. Possible scores range from 13 (worst diet quality) to 39 (best diet quality).

  13. Change in diet quality at 12 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 months

    Mean change in diet quality, measured by Rapid Eating Assessment for Participant--Shortened Version (REAPS) at 12 months; unadjusted. The REAPS estimates diet quality through 13 items which assess weekly eating habits. Possible scores range from 13 (worst diet quality) to 39 (best diet quality).

  14. Change in diet quality at 18 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 18 months

    Mean change in diet quality, measured by Rapid Eating Assessment for Participant--Shortened Version (REAPS) at 18 months; unadjusted. The REAPS estimates diet quality through 13 items which assess weekly eating habits. Possible scores range from 13 (worst diet quality) to 39 (best diet quality).

  15. Change in physical activity at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months

    Mean change in MET-HOURS per week measured by Modifiable Activity Questionnaire (MAQ) at 6 months; unadjusted. The MAQ will be used to measure participants' leisure-time physical activity over the past 7 days. Leisure-time physical activity will be calculated as the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) hours per week (MET-hr/week) and estimated by multiplying time (in hours) spent in an activity by the activities estimated MET and summing across all activities.

  16. Change in physical activity at 12 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 months

    Mean change in MET-HOURS per week measured by Modifiable Activity Questionnaire (MAQ) at 12 months; unadjusted. The MAQ will be used to measure participants' leisure-time physical activity over the past 7 days. Leisure-time physical activity will be calculated as the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) hours per week (MET-hr/week) and estimated by multiplying time (in hours) spent in an activity by the activities estimated MET and summing across all activities.

  17. Change in physical activity at 18 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 18 months

    Mean change in MET-HOURS per week measured by Modifiable Activity Questionnaire (MAQ) at 18 months; unadjusted. The MAQ will be used to measure participants' leisure-time physical activity over the past 7 days. Leisure-time physical activity will be calculated as the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) hours per week (MET-hr/week) and estimated by multiplying time (in hours) spent in an activity by the activities estimated MET and summing across all activities.

  18. Change in physical quality of life at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months

    Mean change in physical quality of life, measured by SF-12 at 6 months; unadjusted. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) is a general quality of life measure with a physical functioning summary score. Scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores representing better functioning.

  19. Change in physical quality of life at 12 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 months

    Mean change in physical quality of life, measured by SF-12 at 12 months; unadjusted. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) is a general quality of life measure with a physical functioning summary score. Scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores representing better functioning.

  20. Change in physical quality of life at 18 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 18 months

    Mean change in physical quality of life, measured by SF-12 at 18 months; unadjusted. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) is a general quality of life measure with a physical functioning summary score. Scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores representing better functioning.

  21. Change in mental quality of life at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months

    Mean change in mental quality of life, measured by SF-12 at 6 months; unadjusted. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) is a general quality of life measure with a mental functioning summary score. Scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores representing better functioning.

  22. Change in mental quality of life at 12 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 months

    Mean change in mental quality of life, measured by SF-12 at 12 months; unadjusted. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) is a general quality of life measure with a mental functioning summary score. Scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores representing better functioning.

  23. Change in mental quality of life at 18 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 18 months

    Mean change in mental quality of life, measured by SF-12 at 18 months; unadjusted. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) is a general quality of life measure with a mental functioning summary score. Scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores representing better functioning.

  24. Change in weight-related quality of life at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months

    Mean change in total quality of life, measured by Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-L) at 6 months; unadjusted. The IWQOL-L measure consists of a total score and five subscales--physical function, self-esteem, sexual life, public distress, and work. The total score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

  25. Change in weight-related quality of life at 12 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 months

    Mean change in total quality of life, measured by Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-L) at 12 months; unadjusted. The IWQOL-L measure consists of a total score and five subscales--physical function, self-esteem, sexual life, public distress, and work. The total score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

  26. Change in weight-related quality of life at 18 months

    Time frame: Baseline and 18 months

    Mean change in total quality of life, measured by Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-L) at 18 months; unadjusted. The IWQOL-L measure consists of a total score and five subscales--physical function, self-esteem, sexual life, public distress, and work. The total score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Kansas Medical Center

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Official study title

Rural Engagement in TelemedTeam for Options in Obesity Treatment Solutions (RE-TOOL)

Acronym: RE-TOOL

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Feb 2, 2023
Registry last updated
Nov 25, 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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