Teaching Novel Values-Based Skills to Improve Long-Term Weight Loss

October 19, 2023 updated by: The Miriam Hospital

Teaching Novel Values-Based Skills to Improve Long-Term Weight Loss: A Randomized Trial Examining the Efficacy of a Weight Loss Maintenance Intervention Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

This NIDDK funded R01 project is a randomized controlled clinical trial to compare the efficacy of an intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and a Self-Regulation (SR) intervention on weight loss maintenance over a 30-month period. All participants will first complete a well-validated online weight loss intervention (months 1-3 of the study). Participants who lose ≥4 kilograms of initial weight will then be randomly assigned to receive ACT or SR, with both conditions consisting of face-to-face, group-based intervention meetings and weekly email contact for 6 months.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Obesity is a major public health problem, and although short-term weight loss is achievable, individuals often regain the majority of weight that was lost. Current approaches have adjusted behavioral prescriptions and lengthened treatment contact in an effort to address this problem, with modest effect. This NIDDK funded R01 project is a randomized controlled clinical trial to compare the efficacy of an intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and a Self-Regulation (SR) intervention on weight loss maintenance over a 30-month period. All participants will first complete a well-validated online weight loss intervention (months 1-3 of the study). Participants who lose ≥4 kilograms of initial weight will then be randomly assigned to receive ACT or SR, with both conditions consisting of face-to-face, group-based intervention meetings and weekly email contact for 6 months. The ACT intervention will target a novel theoretically derived intervention target, values-consistent behavior, which will help align weight loss goals with personal values and foster internal motivation to continue with weight control efforts. Assessments will be at baseline, post-weight loss/pre-randomization, and then 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30-month follow-up (months from randomization). This project will be conducted at the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center (WCDRC). The WCDRC is part of the Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, and the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. This study is significant because it addresses weight loss maintenance - a critical barrier to treating obesity - and results of the study could be used to improve long-term weight loss outcomes and associated health benefits for treatment seeing overweight and obese adults.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
480

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Rhode Island
      • Providence, Rhode Island, United States, 02903
        • Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

25 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • English language fluent and literate at the 6th grade level
  • Body mass index (BMI) between 27.5 and 45 kg/m-squared
  • Able to walk 2 city blocks without stopping
  • Has reliable access to a computer with internet access

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Currently participating in another weight loss program
  • Currently taking weight loss medication
  • Has lost ≥5% of body weight in the 6 months prior to enrolling
  • Has been pregnant within the 6 months prior to enrolling
  • Plans to become pregnant within 18 months of enrolling
  • Has a heart condition, chest pain during periods of activity or rest, or loss of consciousness in the 12 months prior to enrolling
  • Has any medical condition that would affect the safety of participating in unsupervised physical activity
  • Has any condition that would result in inability to follow the study protocol, including terminal illness and untreated major psychiatric illness

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Focuses on addressing cognitive and emotional barriers to successful weight loss maintenance.
Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Teaches acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based skills
Experimental: Self-Regulation (SR)
Focuses on using self-monitoring and self-reinforcement techniques to improve weight loss maintenance.
Behavioral: Self-Regulation (SR)
Teaches monitoring and reinforcement strategies designed to improve motivation and adherence to positive weight loss behavioral prescriptions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Weight Loss Maintenance
Time Frame: 30 months
weight change from randomization to study end
30 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Waist Circumference
Time Frame: 30 months
change in waist circumference from randomization to study end
30 months
Objectively Measured Physical Activity Minutes Per Week
Time Frame: 30 months
change in objectively measured physical activity from randomization to study end as measured by 7 days of wearing Actigraph accelerometer device
30 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
The Miriam Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jason Lillis, Ph.D., The Miriam Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 19, 2020

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 30, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 21, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 4, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 5, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 23, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 19, 2023

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • R01DK120731 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Data includes objective measurement of weight and height, physical activity, dietary intake, and self-report questionnaire data assessing values-consistent behavior, motivation, and use of weight control strategies. The final dataset will include self-reported demographic data. Research data from participants may be shared with the broader scientific community after publication. Even though the final dataset will be stripped of identifiers prior to release for sharing, we believe that protecting the identities of participants is best achieved by enacting additional safeguards. We will therefore make data and documentation available only under a data-sharing agreement that provides for (1) a commitment to use the data for research purposes only; (2) a commitment to securing the data using appropriate computer technology; (3) a commitment to destroying or returning the data after analyses are completed; and (4) a commitment not to attempt to identify participants individually.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

After data analysis for the study is complete.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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