Smart Gaming in Obesity

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Loss + Health Segments; Behavioral: Cognitive enhancement program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03693859

Lent1018

Details and patient eligibility

About

Obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 30 kg/m2) is associated with diminished executive functioning. The primary objective of this randomized, controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a behavioral weight loss program coupled with enhanced executive functioning training via serious gaming on weight loss and weight loss maintenance in adults with obesity and executive functioning deficits compared to adults undergoing standard behavioral treatment alone (N = 200). Serious gaming interventions that target the specific cognitive functions needed for weight-loss maintenance may improve long-term weight-loss success.

Full description

This randomized, controlled study will evaluate the efficacy of a behavioral weight loss program coupled with enhanced executive functioning training via serious gaming (BWL+GAMING) on weight loss and maintenance in adults with obesity and executive functioning deficits compared to standard behavioral treatment alone (BWL) at two urban Philadelphia university-based clinics (PCOM [Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine] and Temple University). Participants will be recruited from the community. All participants (N = 200) will complete 12 weeks of behavioral weight loss treatment. Intervention participants will also complete 30-minutes (5 days per week for 8 weeks) of a serious gaming program, which will feature online games developed specifically to enhance executive functions. The primary outcomes are weight change and weight change maintenance, which will be measured at 12 and 52 weeks, respectively. Neuropsychological testing will evaluate the proposed mechanism of action, changes in executive functioning, before and after treatment (12 and 52 weeks).

Enrollment: 200 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Obesity
• Executive functioning deficits
• Internet access

Exclusion criteria

• Under 18 years of age
• Over 65 years of age
• Taking weight loss medication
• Pregnant

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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200 participants in 2 patient groups

Behavioral Weight Loss + Gaming

Experimental group

Description:

Treatment will consist of 12-weekly, one-hour group sessions of approximately 15 participants per group. Participants will provide logs of serious gaming (intervention).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive enhancement program

Behavioral Weight Loss + Health Segments

Active Comparator group

Description:

Control participants will be asked to spend 30 minutes watching health segments online, five days per week, for 8 weeks. Participants will provide logs of video segment watching (control).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Loss + Health Segments