Weight Management Class for Obesity

Overseen By Manabu Nakamura, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Must not be taking: GLP-1 agonists

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Bariatric surgery, Eating disorder, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 3 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to help people in rural Illinois lose weight through an online program called EMPOWER. It focuses on teaching dietary and lifestyle changes to help participants lose at least 5% of their body weight. Participants will engage in online classes, daily self-weighing, and monthly nutrition coaching for a year. Individuals with a BMI of 28 or higher who live in rural Illinois might be a good fit. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could promote healthier lifestyles in rural communities.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are on GLP-1 Receptor Agonist weight loss medication.

What prior data suggests that this weight management class is safe?

Research has shown that lifestyle changes can aid in weight loss and are generally safe for most people. One study found that consuming a diet of 1000–1500 calories daily led to a weight loss of about 5-7 pounds over 3 to 6 months. This suggests that modifying diet and lifestyle can effectively and safely manage weight.

Another study discovered that weight-loss programs incorporating lifestyle changes can also reduce obesity-related risks. These programs typically report no serious side effects, indicating they are well-tolerated.

Overall, evidence indicates that losing weight through diet and lifestyle changes is safe and beneficial for those seeking to shed pounds. Participants in these programs often experience positive results without major health risks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this weight management approach because it focuses on personalized nutrition coaching, which is tailored to each participant's specific needs. Unlike standard treatments that often rely on medication or one-size-fits-all diet plans, this program emphasizes individualized dietary and lifestyle changes. By addressing personal habits and preferences, this method aims to provide sustainable weight loss solutions, potentially leading to more effective long-term results.

What evidence suggests that this weight management class is effective for obesity?

Research has shown that changing diet and lifestyle can aid in weight loss. Studies have found that individuals who make these changes can lose significant weight, sometimes up to 9.9% of their body weight. This method not only aids in weight loss but also improves health measures like body mass index (BMI) and cholesterol levels. One study found that 10% to 27% of individuals with obesity can lose at least 5% of their weight over several months to years. These findings suggest that following a diet and exercise plan can effectively manage weight over time. Participants in this trial will follow a structured weight-loss program that includes dietary and lifestyle changes, with individualized nutrition coaching to support their weight management goals. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for rural Illinois residents aged 18-75 with a BMI of at least 28 kg/m^2. Participants must be fluent in English, have internet access and a smartphone, and live primarily in a rural area. It aims to help those struggling with obesity or unintentional weight loss.

Inclusion Criteria

My BMI is 28 or higher.

I can access the internet and use a smartphone.

I am fluent in English.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

3 months

Eligibility forms submitted after attending introductory class

Introductory Weight Management Class

Participants attend a weight management class as a recruitment tool for the EMPOWER program

1 session

1 visit (in-person or virtual)

Treatment

Participants complete 12 online educational sessions and engage in daily self-weighing

3 months

Monthly nutrition coaching calls

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for weight loss and dietary changes

9 months

Monthly nutrition coaching calls

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Weight-loss through dietary and lifestyle changes

Trial Overview The study tests if an introductory class can recruit people to the EMPOWER program for online weight loss. It includes 12 educational sessions over three months, daily self-weighing with WiFi scales, monthly nutrition calls, and tracking food intake plus waist/hip measurements.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: EMPOWER Weight-Loss Participants Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

All weight-loss participants will receive the same protocol and weight-loss education materials. Nutrition coaching is individualized to participant needs, but emphasizes the program's core themes throughout.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Lead Sponsor

Trials

203

Recruited

40,600+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37084486/

A systematic review on the effectiveness of diet and ... The ADF participants achieved body weight change of mean -0.9% ± 0.6% in the low-weight-loss group, and -9.9% ± 1.1% in the high-weight-loss ...

2. cdc.gov cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2024/23_0347.htm

Weight Loss in Short-Term Interventions for Physical ... This meta-analysis of 14 RCTs found that interventions lasting 6 months or less were effective at achieving weight loss. Each study showed ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871402123000553

A systematic review on the effectiveness of diet and ... Our findings suggest that a combination of exercise and diet helps manage obesity by decreasing BMI and improving metabolic parameters like lipid profile and ...

4. nejm.org nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1014296

Changes in Diet and Lifestyle and Long-Term Weight Gain ... Aggregate dietary changes accounted for substantial differences in weight gain, with additional contributions from changes in physical activity ...

5. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2815174

Weight Loss Treatment and Longitudinal Weight Change ... Prior work has shown that between 10% and 27% of patients with obesity achieve 5% or greater weight loss over 6 months to 5 years, with a ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7773341/

Dietary interventions for obesity: clinical and mechanistic ... Prescribed diets of 1000–1500 kcal/d using portion-controlled foods increased initial weight losses by 2.5–3.0 kg at 3–6 months, as compared with the ...

7. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41366-021-00788-4

Weight loss and risk reduction of obesity-related outcomes ... Data from randomised controlled trials have also demonstrated that weight-loss interventions, such as pharmacotherapy and lifestyle changes, can ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589936825000313

Obesity: Prevalence, causes, consequences, management ... Obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, with over 1 billion people classified as obese in 2022, representing 13% of the global population.

9. mhealth.jmir.org mhealth.jmir.org/2019/10/e12612/

Assessment of the Efficacy, Safety, and Effectiveness of ... The majority of studies took weight or body mass index loss as the main outcome (22) followed by changes in physical activity (14) and diet (12) ...