Weight Watchers and Families

University of Connecticut

Status

Completed

Conditions

Overweight and Obesity

Treatments

Other: Self guided handout

Behavioral: Weight Watchers

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Industry

Identifiers

NCT03042208

H14-260

Details and patient eligibility

About

Research suggests that when one spouse loses weight, the other spouse does too. This study will examine whether a ripple effect is observed in untreated spouses and children of individuals participating in a nationally available weight loss program. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive Weight Watchers immediately or at the end of a 6-month waiting period. Participants and untreated spouses (and any children in the home) will be assessed at baseline, 3, and 6 months.

Enrollment

260 patients

Sex

All

Ages

25 to 70 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

body mass index between 27.0-40.0 kg/m2
married or living with a significant other who had a BMI > 25 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

currently in a weight loss program, dieting, or taking medications that might affect weight
had participated in a weight loss program in the past year
lost > 5% of their body weight in the past 6 months
were planning to or had undergone weight loss surgery
had any orthopedic limitations or contraindications to physical activity
were pregnant, lactating, or less than 6 months postpartum, or were planning to become pregnant in the next year
reported uncontrolled hypertension, history of coronary heart disease, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease; reported chronic gastrointestinal disease
endorsed having hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis, or HIV
had a history of cancer within the past 5 years
reported a significant psychiatric illness that might interfere with completion of the study.