Tailored Worksite Weight Control Programs

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: INCENT weight loss program; Behavioral: Livin My Weigh

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01880060

5R01DK071664-02 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Given the prevalence of overweight and obesity, worksite-based health promotion programs have been recommended due to their potential reach and social support impact. Within worksite contexts, many strategies to prevent and treat obesity have focused on educational programs delivered in person or to small groups that target knowledge acquisition and strategies targeted at individuals to improve their dietary and activity practices. These programs have been criticized because they typically reach a small percentage of workers-and seldom those that could benefit most, are of short duration, and have typically small effects that are not sustained. They have also typically been conducted in large worksites that have the greatest resources. The lack of success of these programs may be due to: 1) inadequate intervention intensity, 2) implementation challenges, and 3) a lack of theoretical models as the bases for intervention development. To overcome the limitations of previous research we will conduct a 2 group randomized controlled trial to determine the reach and effectiveness of an extensive intervention that: (a) is based upon sound theory, (b) is delivered primarily through scalable interactive technologies, and (c) leverages the existing organizational and environmental context of the workplace.

Full description

This study will test the utility of a social ecological theory, individually-targeted internet-based intervention with monetary incentives to reduce the weight of overweight and obese employees (INCENT) when compared to a low-intensity, internet-based weight loss program without incentives (Livin My Weigh). Participants in INCENT will receive daily e-mail support that facilitates goal setting, regular assessments of body weight, and incentives based on percent of original body weight lost at the end of each quarter over the 12-month program. The e-mail supports will target improving perceptions of self-efficacy and outcome expectations related to weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight. In addition e-mail support will facilitate participant problem solving and identification of resources for healthful eating and physical activity at home, in their neighborhoods, and at their worksite. Participants in Livin My Weigh (LMW)will receive evidence-based physical activity and nutrition information to facilitate weight loss through quarterly newsletters and quarterly educational sessions.

Enrollment: 1,790 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 90 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Employed full time at an eligible worksite
• Access to the internet
• BMI > 25

Exclusion criteria

• BMI < 25
• no internet access

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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1,790 participants in 2 patient groups

INCENT weight loss program

Experimental group

Description:

INCENT: The INCENT intervention is an internet-delivered weight loss program with periodic financial incentives for weight loss. INCENT participants receive daily e-mail support with nutritional and physical activity suggestions to enhance weight loss. Monetary incentives are earned on a quarterly basis for weight loss and participants receive monthly checks that reflect the percent weight loss. A regularly calibrated scale with a built in digital camera captures an image of the participant during a weigh-in, and is used to objectively obtain weight data from participants at each quarterly weigh-in.

Treatment:

Behavioral: INCENT weight loss program

Livin My Weigh

Experimental group

Description:

Livin My Weigh: The Livin My Weigh (LMW) intervention is an internet-delivered weight loss program without daily support or financial incentives. Participants receive quarterly newsletters with tips on weight loss, increasing physical activity, and menu suggestions, and optional quarterly educational sessions. Weight is measured in the same manner as the INCENT participants.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Livin My Weigh