Adaptive Approach for Long-Term Weight Loss

Overseen By Josh Oliver

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Utah

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Uncontrolled conditions, Eating disorder, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

30 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a personalized program designed to help individuals maintain weight loss. It examines whether a tailored approach, including regular support and check-ins, can prevent weight regain. Participants will receive educational messages, complete surveys, and weigh themselves weekly, with some receiving additional health coaching. This study suits those who have lost at least 7% of their body weight in the past six months, had a BMI of 27 or higher before losing weight, and have no current plans for weight loss surgery. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to explore personalized weight maintenance strategies without the constraints of traditional clinical trial phases.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the study team or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this adaptive intervention is safe for weight regain prevention?

In a previous study, participants who received adaptive support for maintaining weight loss kept off an average of 8.1% of their starting weight over two years. This demonstrates the program's effectiveness in helping people maintain weight loss. Importantly, the study found no significant difference in weight regain when comparing adaptive support to regular monthly support, indicating that the adaptive program is safe and well-tolerated by participants.

Research has also shown that lifestyle programs like this one can help maintain weight loss. Studies indicate these programs can keep weight about 5% lower than the starting weight. This further supports the safety and effectiveness of adaptive methods in managing weight over the long term.

Overall, these findings suggest the adaptive weight regain prevention program is safe. Participants handle the program well, with no major side effects reported in these studies. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the adaptive weight regain prevention approach because it introduces a dynamic and personalized method to maintain weight loss over the long term. Unlike traditional methods that often involve static diet and exercise plans, this adaptive intervention uses real-time feedback and adjustments to cater to individual needs and changes in lifestyle. This personalized and flexible strategy aims to address the common challenge of weight regain by adapting to each person's unique circumstances, potentially leading to more sustainable results.

What evidence suggests that this adaptive intervention is effective for preventing weight regain?

Research has shown that maintaining weight loss can be difficult. One study found that special support did not significantly outperform regular monthly support in preventing weight regain. However, lifestyle changes can help individuals maintain about 5% of their initial weight loss. Another study found that people tend to regain weight faster after stopping weight loss medications than after making lifestyle changes, with an average gain of 0.4 kg per month. Although maintaining weight loss is challenging, structured programs and lifestyle changes can still offer long-term benefits. Participants in this trial will receive an adaptive intervention designed to prevent weight regain, providing tailored support for long-term weight loss maintenance. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for people who have intentionally lost weight and want help keeping it off long-term. Participants should be adults willing to complete surveys, weigh themselves weekly, and engage with digital support like texts or emails.

Inclusion Criteria

Lost ≥ 7% of body mass in the past 6 months

BMI of ≥ 27 prior to weight loss

Weight loss was intentional

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant or within 12 months postpartum, or planning pregnancy

Food insecure

I have been treated for or diagnosed with an eating disorder in the past year.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a baseline assessment of body measurements and surveys on dietary intake, mental health, and physical activity

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants engage in a 26-week program involving regular educational texts/emails, weekly online survey check-ins, and weekly weigh-ins. Some participants may receive health coaching.

26 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention, with assessments repeated at the end of the intervention period

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Adaptive weight regain prevention

Trial Overview

The study tests a personalized program designed to prevent regaining weight after intentional loss. It includes regular educational messages, weekly check-ins, self-weighing, and possibly health coaching over 26 weeks.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Adaptive Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Utah

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,169

Recruited

1,623,000+

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

Citations

1.

bmj.com

bmj.com/content/392/bmj-2025-085304

Weight regain after cessation of medication for ...

After a mean 2.4 kg greater initial weight loss with BWMPs, weight regain was 0.02 kg per month compared with control over a 10 year follow-up.

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12455375/

Adaptive vs Monthly Support for Weight-Loss Maintenance

Results of this randomized clinical trial with 255 participants demonstrated no difference in weight regain from month 4 to 24 in adaptive vs ...

3.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10106109/

Long-Term Effect of Weight Regain Following Behavioral ...

Despite weight regain, BWMPs reduce cardiometabolic risk factors with effects lasting at least 5 years after program end and dwindling with weight regain.

4.

bmjgroup.com

bmjgroup.com/stopping-weight-loss-drugs-linked-to-weight-regain-and-reversal-of-heart-health-markers/

Stopping weight loss drugs linked to weight regain and ...

Average regain is 0.4kg/month and all weight lost likely to be regained in under 2 years. Weight regain faster after stopping weight loss drugs than after ...

5.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405457722002017

Understanding weight regain after a nutritional weight loss ...

This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that lifestyle interventions remained effective in maintaining the mean weight (5% lower than baseline weight)

6.

jamanetwork.com

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2839206

Adaptive vs Monthly Support for Weight-Loss Maintenance

At month 24, adaptive participants maintained a mean (SD) weight loss of 8.1% (7.8%) from initial intervention baseline while static ...

7.

thelancet.com

thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(26)00043-X/fulltext

Trajectory of weight regain after cessation of GLP-1 ...

Extrapolation of our model provides novel insights into weight outcomes beyond 1 year, predicting that weight regain plateaus at 75% of the weight lost during ...