ME-WEL: eHealth Behaviour Change Intervention for Weight Management in Post-menopausal Women

ISPA - Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Psicologicas, Sociais e da Vida

Status: Completed

Conditions: Self Esteem; Weight Loss; Subjective Well-being; Physical Activity; Eating Behavior; Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms

Treatments: Behavioral: Experimental Group: Weekly group sessions for weight management; Behavioral: Control Group: Delivery of a health literacy flyer

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05903157

SFRH/BD/144525/2019

Details and patient eligibility

About

In post-menopause, most women gain weight, and obesity rates are more prevalent in this particular group. In addition, there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Given that this weight gain can be related to risk behaviours, healthy weight management (such as an increase in physical activity or healthy eating) is crucial to promote a healthy weight and well-being.

The ME-WEL (MEnopause and WEigth Loss) project (ref. SFRH/BD/144525/2019), entails an eHealth intervention for weight management and well-being in post-menopausal women with overweight or obesity, based on two theoretical models of behavioral change - the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), and the Health Belief Model (HBM), and applying the Behaviour Change Techniques (BCT) Taxonomy and Oxford Food and Activity Behaviors (OxFAB) Taxonomy.

This group's eHealth intervention lasts 8 weeks. Each week there is a different theme to be addressed, taking into account the behavioral change models mechanisms, in articulation with different BCT´s and weight strategies.

Subjective well-being, self-esteem, weight loss, implementation of weight management strategies, and changes in eating behavior and physical activity/exercise were evaluated, through follow-ups at 3- and 6- post-intervention.

Enrollment: 35 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 45 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age (45-65 years);
• Post-menopausal women (which starts after menopause/last period, confirmed by 12-month amenorrhea);
• Women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 or more (overweight) or women with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more (obesity);
• Nationality (Portuguese or dual nationality);

Exclusion criteria

• Specifical diseases and/or medical reasons to limit activity (stroke, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy, musculoskeletal problems that severely compromise mobility; loss of functional ability);
• Diagnosis of mental health illness or recent hospitalization for mental health reasons;
• History of alcohol dependence;
• History of addiction to illicit substances;
• Suicidal ideation

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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35 participants in 2 patient groups

Control Group: Delivery of a health literacy flyer

Active Comparator group

Description:

All Control Group participants received, through e-mail, a flyer about health literacy.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Control Group: Delivery of a health literacy flyer

Weekly group sessions for weight management

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the Experimental Group were integrated into an eHealth 8-week group intervention, based on two theoretical models - the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), and the Health Belief Model (HBM). Several Behaviour Change Techniques (BCT) were used, to promote the behaviour change. The experimental intervention consisted of: i) weekly group sessions (by Zoom platform), with a specific theme in each session, ii) weekly challenges, and iii) WhatsApp group interaction.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Experimental Group: Weekly group sessions for weight management