Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

Stepped Care for Weight Loss Maintenance

United States192 participantsStarted 2024-02-01

Plain-language summary

This study is a 3-group, parallel design, randomized controlled trial (RCT) in approximately 258 adults with obesity that will investigate whether a 16-week behavioral weight loss treatment and a 52-week stepped-care digital health intervention can improve the maintenance of a ≥ 5% weight loss. 16-week run-in (Phase 1). To qualify for randomization, participants must lose ≥ 5% of initial weight in the 16-week run-in. This loss will be achieved with the provision of weekly-group lifestyle counseling, which includes a partial meal replacement diet. 52-week randomized trial of 3 weight loss maintenance strategies (Phase 2): Participants who have achieved ≥ 5% weight loss during Phase 1 will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: 1. Participants in the Usual Care group will be emailed monthly educational modules with information on maintaining weight loss. 2. Participants in the SELF group will receive a wireless "smart" body weight scale and a wearable physical activity tracker, and daily text messages with tailored feedback to assist in weight loss maintenance. 3. Participants in the STEP group will be enrolled in an intervention that consists of 4 steps that are progressive and based on response to treatment. After 13 weeks at each step, participants who do not maintain a ≥5% weight loss or regain 2 percentage points of weight from the participants randomization value will move to a higher intensity step. Participants who maintain weight loss will stay at the same step.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 70 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * BMI\>/=30 kg/m2 or \>/=27 kg/m2 with an obesity-related complication * Age 18-70 years * Completion of baseline assessment tasks * Ability to engage in physical activity * Own a smartphone capable of receiving text-messages and syncing to weight scales and physical activity trackers * Home wireless access Exclusion Criteria: * Serious medical condition or psychiatric condition that may pose a risk to the participant during intervention, cause a change in weight, or limit ability to adhere to the behavioral recommendations of the program * Pregnant or planning pregnancy in the next 1.5 years * Weight\>440 lbs * Planned move out of the area in the next 1.5 years * Recently began a course of or changed the dosage of medication that can cause significant change in weight * History of bariatric surgery * Weight loss of \>5% in the previous 6 months * Household member already participating in study

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Weight (kg) change for STEP versus usual care

Timeframe: Baseline, 52 weeks

Weight (kg) change for SELF versus usual care

Timeframe: Baseline, 52 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06151145

SponsorJohns Hopkins University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2028-06

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