Evaluating a Blood Pressure Reduction and Weight Loss Program in a Low Income, Ethnically Diverse Population (The Be Fit, Be Well [BFBW] Study) (BFBW)

March 3, 2012 updated by: Graham Colditz, Washington University School of Medicine

Integrated Weight Loss Technologies for Weight and Blood Pressure Control in Urban Clinics

Obesity is a serious health problem that is a contributing factor for heart disease and high blood pressure. This study will evaluate a lifestyle modification program that aims to encourage weight loss and improve the health of people with high blood pressure from low income and minority communities.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Obesity is a serious health problem in the United States, particularly among lower income and racial and ethnic minority populations. These populations have a high risk of developing heart disease and high blood pressure, and obesity is likely a contributing factor for both conditions. African-Americans, in particular, experience an earlier onset of high blood pressure and suffer more severe health consequences as a result, than do other racial and ethnic groups. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a lifestyle modification program that will focus on reducing blood pressure levels and encouraging weight loss among patients at community health centers that serve a primarily low-income, ethnically diverse population. Researchers will also evaluate the cost effectiveness of the lifestyle modification program.

This 2-year study will enroll people who have high blood pressure. Participants will attend a baseline study visit to complete health questionnaires. They will then be randomly assigned to either receive usual care along with printed materials about maintaining a healthy weight or take part in the lifestyle modification program that incorporates health information technologies. Participants assigned to the program will visit the BFBW study Web site several times a week to review educational and motivational information. They may receive automated weekly phone calls that will prompt them to answer questions and assist them in setting goals for losing weight and managing their blood pressure. A study researcher will call participants every 6 weeks to discuss any problems and to invite participants to take part in optional walking groups or other group activities. Participants will attend group support sessions every other month and will wear a pedometer to track their walking habits. For all participants, study visits will occur at baseline and Months 6, 12, 18, and 24. All visits will include weight and blood pressure measurements, health questionnaires, and physician referrals if needed.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

365

Phase

  • 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
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
        • Dana Farber Cancer Institute

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

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • High blood pressure that is being treated with medication
  • BMI between 30 and 50 kg/m2
  • Weighs no more than 400 lbs
  • Willing to change diet, physical activity levels, and weight
  • Willing to be assigned to either study group
  • Patient of a participating community health center with a record of at least one medical visit in the 12 months before study entry
  • Primary care provider approval is needed for people with the following conditions: diabetes mellitus, a prior cardiovascular event more than 6 months before study entry, known stable cardiovascular or peripheral vascular disease

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Experienced a heart attack, stroke, or an atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) procedure in the 6 months before study entry
  • Serious medical condition that is likely to interfere with an accurate measurement of weight, for which weight loss is not medically advisable, or that would cause weight loss (e.g., end-stage renal disease [ESRD] and on dialysis; diagnosis or treatment for cancer in the 2 years before study entry, other than non-melanoma skin cancer)
  • Prior or planned bariatric surgery
  • Use of FDA-approved prescription weight loss medication, including off label drugs (e.g., topiramate, bupropion, byetta) or over-the-counter orlistat in the 6 months before study entry
  • Long-term use (i.e., in the 6 months before study entry) of medications likely to cause weight gain or prevent weight loss (e.g., corticosteroids, lithium, olanzapine, risperidone, clozapine)
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding in the 6 months before study entry
  • Plans to become pregnant in the 2 years after study entry
  • Plans to relocate from the area in the 2 years after study entry
  • Another member of household is a study participant or study staff member
  • Principal investigator decides that the individual is not suitable for the study

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: 1
Participants in this group will receive usual medical care and reading materials on weight loss.
Behavioral: Usual Care and Reading Materials
Participants in this group will receive usual medical care provided by their own primary care providers. They will also receive the NHLBI's "Aim for a Healthy Weight" brochure at the baseline study visit and again at the beginning of Year 2.
Experimental: 2
Participants in this group will take part in the lifestyle modification program.
Behavioral: Lifestyle Modification Program
Participants will receive a behavior change "prescription" and skills training, offered via the Internet or through a combination of tailored print materials and an interactive voice response system, together with support strategies to enhance the intensity of the interpersonal and social-environmental support.
Other Names:
  • ES+SS (Environmental Support + Social Support)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Change in body mass index (BMI)
Time Frame: Measured at Year 2
Measured at Year 2

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Reduction in blood pressure
Time Frame: Measured at Year 2
Measured at Year 2

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Washington University School of Medicine

Collaborators

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Graham A. Colditz, MD, DrPH, Washington University School of Medicine
  • Principal Investigator: Gary G. Bennett, PhD, Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard School of Public Health
  • Principal Investigator: Karen M. Emmons, PhD, Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard School of Public Health

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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

November 1, 2006

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 16, 2008

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 16, 2008

First Posted (Estimate)

April 18, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 6, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 3, 2012

Last Verified

March 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 448
  • U01HL087071 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • U01HL087071-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • RFA-HL-007

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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