Weight Maintenance Through Physical Activity and Social Support in Rural Middle-Aged Women

The purpose of this study is to compare an technology-based weight maintenance intervention using action plans, videos discussion boards and health behavior tracking (weight, calories in and out, pedometer steps) with a technology-based standard advice group to facilitate health management, resourcefulness and health status for rural middle-aged women.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Body Weight Changes
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Videos; Behavioral: Action Plans; Behavioral: Discussion Boards; Behavioral: Health behavior tracking

Detailed Description

The purpose of this research project is to evaluate the influence of a theory-based intervention using the Health Effects of Life Transitions for Women Model to promote maintenance of initial weight loss. The intervention will be designed to promote physical activity to prevent weight regain among an underserved and vulnerable population of rural, mid-life women. The intervention delivered through action plans, videos, discussion boards and health behavior tracking (weight, calories in and out, pedometer steps) to facilitate health management, resourcefulness and health status will be compared with the standard advice group who receives newsletters and health behavior tracking (weight) to initiate, increase, or sustain physical activity for weight maintenance.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 52
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Nebraska
    • Auburn, Nebraska, United States, 68305
      • Southeast District Health Department

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years to 64 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Women:

• aged 40-64 years;
• reported intentional weight loss of 5-10% of initial body weight within previous 6 months;
• residing in a rural county (population < 50,000 residents) or rural community (population less than 2,500) within driving distance of a UNMC College of Nursing campus;
• ability to communicate in English (verbal and written);
• ambulatory and can walk at least one block without the use of an assistive device, such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair;
• have access to the internet and current email account; and
• answer 'no' to all questions on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) or obtain clearance from their physician to become more active.

Exclusion Criteria:

• instructed by a physician not to exercise;
• presence of chest pain, shortness of breath, or feelings of light-headedness upon exertion.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: intervention group; The intervention will be delivered through action plans, videos, discussion boards and health behavior tracking (weight, calories in and out, pedometer steps) to facilitate health management, resourcefulness and health status.	Behavioral: Videos; Provide information on physical activity, diet, calorie tracking to support weight maintenance in rural women.; Behavioral: Action Plans; Online action plans will be used by subjects to set and evaluate physical activity goals; Behavioral: Discussion Boards; forum to exchange information and experiences; Behavioral: Health behavior tracking; online tracking of weight for both intervention and standard advice group. In addition, the intervention group will also track their calories in and out and their pedometer steps
Active Comparator: Standard Advice Group; Standard advice group receives newsletters and health behavior tracking (weight) to initiate, increase, or sustain physical activity for weight maintenance.	Behavioral: Health behavior tracking; online tracking of weight for both intervention and standard advice group. In addition, the intervention group will also track their calories in and out and their pedometer steps

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
weight maintenance	Weight maintenance (no significant change in weight from baseline which corresponds to a weight gain of less than 2.3 kg from baseline over the course of the study)	baseline, 3 months, 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Nebraska
• Collaborators: National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Teresa Hultquist, PhD, University of Nebraska

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): February 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 30, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 5, 2011
• First Posted (Estimated): December 7, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 5, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 30, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Body Weight; Body Weight Changes
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0175-09-FB; 5P20NR011404 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)