mDiet: A Text Message Intervention for Weight Loss

December 3, 2014 updated by: Kevin Patrick, MD, MS, University of California, San Diego
The purpose of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded randomized controlled study is to develop and evaluate a text message (SMS) based weight loss intervention to 309 overweight or moderately obese English and Spanish speaking adults ages 21 - 60. The investigators propose that participants randomized to the intervention arms will lose significantly more weight than those participants randomized to the control group.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The SMS based intervention will be developed through formative research including focus groups, cognitive interviews, and a pilot test of a Spanish version of mDIET. The focus groups will be conducted with both English and Spanish speaking men and women to 1) learn more about the content areas to be addressed in the intervention including physical activity and sedentary behaviors to expand on previous research; 2) learn more about assessing equivalence and compatibility in intervention messages in English and Spanish; 3) identify the most culturally and linguistically appropriate messages; 4) assess text message use; 5) identify factors that influence food and physical activity decisions; and 6) identify health messages that Latinos see as most understandable, credible, and persuasive, cognitive interviews, and a pilot test of a Spanish version of mDIET. The cognitive interviews will be conducted in Spanish and will help inform translation of study materials (text messages and measures) from English to Spanish. An 8-week pilot test of the Latino (Spanish language) mDIET will be conducted to ensure that the text messages and SMS system works as expected in terms of usability and acceptability.

The randomized controlled trial will be a 12-month intervention with 309 study participants. Participants will be randomized to one of three groups: SMS-only, SMS plus phone counseling, and a control group (Details of the study arms are discussed in another section). The goals of the intervention groups (SMS-only and SMS plus phone counseling) include: 5% weight loss, 500 k/cal per day deficit through reduced caloric intake and increased energy expenditure, 12,00 steps through the use of a pedometer, and a reduction in sedentary behaviors. Participants will receive daily text messages, self-monitoring tools, and brief health promotion printed or wed materials on physical activity, nutrition, or other weight loss related topics. Participants will complete physiological and survey measures at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months to assess weight (BMI), physical activity and diet behaviors, psychosocial behaviors, environmental factors, and exposure and satisfaction with the program.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

318

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
    • California
      • La Jolla, California, United States, 92037-0811
        • UCSD, Atkinson Hall, 3rd Floor

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 to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Are 21 - 60 years
  • Are overweight or moderately obese with a BMI between 27.0 - 39.9
  • Have a cell phone that is capable of sending and receiving text and picture messages
  • Have a permanent residence in San Diego County and intend to stay over the entire study duration
  • Speak and read English or Spanish
  • Are willing to attend all (3) measurement assessments at the research office
  • Provide assent and have a legal guardian that will participate and provide parental permission/consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Have any of the following conditions: pulmonary, cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal problems that would limit the ability to comply with moderate intensity physical activity (i.e. brisk walking)
  • Are pregnant or intend to become pregnant during the study period
  • Have a history of substance abuse
  • Have a psychiatric disorder that would impair compliance with the study protocol
  • Are using weight loss medications or supplements
  • Are currently involved in another weight loss study or program

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: SMS Only
The SMS only group will receive hints, tips, strategies, and questions related to weight loss behaviors, physical activity, nutrition, and motivation. The messages will be "pushed" to participants (i.e. no response needed) and "pulled" from participants (i.e. response is needed). The SMS only group will also receive a brief printed or web based outline on weight loss resources and information.
Behavioral: mDiet
The goals of the intervention groups (SMS-only and SMS plus phone counseling) include: 5% weight loss, 500 k/cal per day deficit through reduced caloric intake and increased energy expenditure, 12,00 steps through the use of a pedometer, and a reduction in sedentary behaviors. Participants will receive daily "pushed" and "pulled" text messages, self-monitoring tools, and brief health promotion printed or wed materials on physical activity, nutrition, or other weight loss related topics.
Experimental: SMS + Phone Counseling
This group will receive hints, tips, strategies, and questions related to weight loss behaviors, physical activity, nutrition, and motivation. The messages will be "pushed" to participants (i.e. no response needed) and "pulled" from participants (i.e. response is needed). The group will also receive monthly counseling calls from a Health Coach to discuss barriers and solutions and will receive a brief printed or web based outline on weight loss resources and information.
Behavioral: mDiet
The goals of the intervention groups (SMS-only and SMS plus phone counseling) include: 5% weight loss, 500 k/cal per day deficit through reduced caloric intake and increased energy expenditure, 12,00 steps through the use of a pedometer, and a reduction in sedentary behaviors. Participants will receive daily "pushed" and "pulled" text messages, self-monitoring tools, and brief health promotion printed or wed materials on physical activity, nutrition, or other weight loss related topics.
No Intervention: Control
The Control group will receive a binder with an attractive set of Standard Print Materials related to weight loss that is comparable to what one would receive from community resources such as libraries, magazines and national non-profit or governmental organizations such as 5-A Day, American Heart Association and the like.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Weight Loss
Time Frame: 12 months
To evaluate differences from baseline in percent weight loss at 12 months. We hypothesize that, compared to the usual care Standard Print condition differences in weight loss will be significant in both the SMS only (SMS = short message service or text message) and SMS+Phone intervention groups.
12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Intervention Effects
Time Frame: 12 months
To assess the intervention effects on weight loss by study group, diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviors, quality of life, and depression
12 months
Weight Loss Between Intervention Arms
Time Frame: 12 months
To assess differences in weight loss between the 2 intervention arms (SMS only and SMS plus phone counseling)
12 months
Intervention Satisfaction and Exposure
Time Frame: 12 months
To assess the level of satisfaction and use of the intervention components (SMS, phone counseling)
12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of California, San Diego

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

May 1, 2010

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2014

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 26, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 27, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

July 28, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

December 5, 2014

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 3, 2014

Last Verified

December 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • R01CA138730 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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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