Piloting Visual Chat in Internet Obesity Treatment (CHAT)

University of Vermont

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Loss + Text; Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Loss + Video

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03491293

18-0409

Details and patient eligibility

About

CHAT is an internet-based weight loss research program designed for women with overweight or obesity who want to lose weight through dietary change and increased physical activity. Participants will be randomized into a group-based online program who meet via a text chat or a video chat.

Full description

The overall goal of this project is to determine whether weight losses can be improved if visual chat and electronic smart scales are added to an established 6-month online weight loss program. The primary aim is to assess weight change differences between subjects randomized to receive an Internet program alone (with text chat; INTERNET) vs. an Internet program with visual chat and electronic scales (VIDEO INTERNET). A secondary aim is to evaluate differences in social support experienced by subjects in both conditions. Overweight and obese adults (n=40) at two study sites (UVM and the University of South Carolina) will be randomly assigned to Internet (n=20) or Video Internet (n=20). All participants will receive the same 24 week web-based group weight control program which features synchronous facilitated chats and online behavioral tools. The only difference will be the delivery of the chat (text vs. visual) and the electronic smart scales given to the VIDEO INTERNET group. Assessments will be conducted at 0, 2 and 6 months and will include measures of body weight, treatment engagement (e.g., attendance, self-monitoring, website utilization), social support and treatment satisfaction.

Enrollment: 32 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years old
• BMI between 25 and 55
• Free of medical problems that would preclude participation in a behavioral weight reduction program containing an exercise component
• Not currently pregnant or pregnant in the previous 6 months or breastfeeding
• Must have a computer at home or work with access to the Internet
• Only one member of a household is eligible to participate
• Must successfully complete a self-monitoring diary of foods consumed for 3 days
• must be willing to share access to self monitoring information collected via My Fitness Pal by friending the CHAT research team
• Not currently on medication that might affect weight loss
• Not enrolled in another weight loss program

Exclusion criteria

• BMI less than 25 or more than 55
• Lost 10 pounds or more in the last 6 months
• Had a heart attack or stroke in the past 6 months
• Ever had weight loss surgery
• Currently taking medications for weight loss
• Persons required by their doctor to follow a special diet (other than low fat)
• Plans to move from the area in the upcoming 9 months
• Schedules that make it likely someone would have difficulty attending the scheduled chat groups

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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32 participants in 2 patient groups

Behavioral Weight Loss + Text chat

Active Comparator group

Description:

Internet delivery of a behavioral weight control program via text in a group format facilitated by an experienced registered dietitian. Participants will have access to study materials including behavioral weight loss lessons on the study's website. Participants will weigh themselves daily and report their weight privately (data will only be accessible by research personnel) on the study website.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Loss + Text

Behavioral Weight Loss + Video chat

Experimental group

Description:

Internet delivery of a behavioral weight control program via video in a group format facilitated by an experienced registered dietitian. Participants will have access to study materials including behavioral weight loss lessons on the study's website. Participants will be given smart scales to weigh daily, and weight will be transmitted to a secure website accessible only by research personnel.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Loss + Video