Opt-IN: Optimization of Remotely Delivered Intensive Lifestyle Treatment for Obesity (Opt-IN)

January 12, 2023 updated by: Bonnie Spring, Northwestern University
The overall objective of the proposed research is to use an innovative methodological framework, the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), to design, for the first time, an optimized, scalable version of a technology-supported intensive lifestyle intervention (INLI) for obesity. MOST involves highly efficient randomized experimentation to assess the effects of individual treatment components, and thereby identify which components and component levels make important contributions to the overall program effect on weight loss. This information then guides assembly of an optimized treatment package that achieves target outcomes with least resource consumption and participant burden. Because the intervention strategies being tested minimize in-person coaching and leverage technology that participants already own, the new optimized intervention, to be called Opt-IN, will be more scalable than traditional INLIs. Opt-IN will thus enjoy greatly increased reach, and enable significant progress in the fight against obesity.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

The goal of the proposed study is to determine the optimal composition of a technology supported intervention for obesity that minimizes expense and burden to participants, while achieving 6 month weight loss outcomes comparable or superior to those achieved by the current full cost, full burden form of INLIs. All intervention components to be examined were selected based on the Opt-IN model's prediction that they enhance behavioral adherence to weight regulation via the designated pathways. The five components to be tested will be: (1) coaching intensity (12 vs. 24 phone sessions), (2) text messaging (No vs. Yes), (3) progress report to participant's primary care provider (No vs. Yes), (4) recommendation to use meal replacements (No vs. Yes), (5) training participants' self-selected buddies to be supportive (No vs. Yes).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

562

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3

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

    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Northwestern University

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

18 years to 60 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 and 60 years old
  • BMI 25-40 kg/m2
  • Weight stable (no loss or gain >25 lbs for the past 6 months)
  • Not enrolled in any formal weight loss program or taking anti-obesity medications, but interested in losing weight.
  • Own a Smartphone and be willing to install the Opt-IN app
  • Able to use the app to record dietary intake and weight onto the Smartphone

"Buddy" participants must:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Have access to a computer and internet
  • Be willing to undergo "Buddy Training" and participate in 4 webinars
  • Be willing to provide support and encouragement to the participant

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unstable medical conditions (uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, cancer undergoing active treatment, or cerebrovascular accident within the past six months)
  • History of diabetes requiring insulin supplementation, Crohn's Disease, or a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea requiring intervention (i.e. CPAP)
  • Use an assistive device for mobility (e.g., wheelchair, walker, cane)
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Hospitalization for a psychiatric disorder within the past 5 years
  • At risk for adverse cardiovascular (CVD) events with moderate intensity activity
  • Cannot read the study questionnaires
  • Committed to following an incompatible dietary regimen
  • Not be pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or lactating
  • Bulimia, binge eating disorder, current substance abuse or dependence (besides nicotine dependence) or report active suicidal ideation
  • Low motivation to change
  • Cannot live with a current or past Opt-IN participant

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: FACTORIAL
  • Masking: NONE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 1
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 Telephone Coaching Sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 2
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Recommendations to use meal replacements; 5) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 3
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Regular text messages; 5) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive regular text messages
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 4
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Recommendation to use meal replacements; 5) Regular text messages
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will receive regular text messages
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 5
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 6
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone coaching sessions; 3) Recommendations to use meal replacements
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 7
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Regular text messages
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will receive regular text messages
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 8
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Recommendation to use meal replacements; 4) Regular text messages, 5) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive regular text messages
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 9
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone coaching sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 10
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Recommendation to use meal replacements; 5) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 11
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Regular text messages; 5) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive regular text messages
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 12
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Recommendation to use meal replacements; 5) Regular text messages
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will receive regular text messages
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 13
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 14
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone coaching sessions; 3) Recommendation to use meal replacements
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 15
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Regular text messages
Participants will receive regular text messages
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 16
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Recommendation to use meal replacements; 4) Regular text messages, 5) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive regular text messages
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 17
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 Telephone Coaching Sessions
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 18
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Recommendations to use meal replacements; 4) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 19
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Regular text messages; 4) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive regular text messages
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 20
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Regular text messages; 4) Recommendation to use meal replacements
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will receive regular text messages
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 21
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 22
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone coaching sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Recommendations to use meal replacements
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 23
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Regular text messages
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will receive regular text messages
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 24
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 12 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Recommendation to use meal replacements; 5) Regular text messages, 6) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will receive 12 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive regular text messages
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 25
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone coaching sessions
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 26
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Recommendation to use meal replacements; 4) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 27
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Regular text messages; 4) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive regular text messages
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 28
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Regular text messages; 4) Recommendation to use meal replacements
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will receive regular text messages
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 29
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 30
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone coaching sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Recommendation to use meal replacements
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 31
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Regular text messages
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will receive regular text messages
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions
EXPERIMENTAL: Condition 32
1) Lifestyle Core; 2) 24 telephone sessions; 3) Report to Primary Care Physician; 4) Recommendation to use meal replacements; 5) Regular text messages, 6) Buddy training via webinars
Participants will have a report detailing their weight loss progress sent to their primary care physician
Participants will receive recommendations from their coach to use meal replacements
Participants will have a buddy that will be trained via webinars to be a supportive buddy
Participants will receive regular text messages
Participants will receive 24 telephone coaching sessions

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Weight Change (kg) From Baseline to Month 6, Main Effect of Time
Time Frame: From Baseline to Month 6
Estimated mean change from Baseline to Month 6 were obtained from a linear mixed models analysis of variance to account for missing data. All randomized participants were utilized in the model (ITT analysis).
From Baseline to Month 6
Weight Change (kg) From Baseline to Month 6, Time by Factor Interaction
Time Frame: From Baseline to Month 6

Estimated mean change from Baseline to Month 6 were obtained from a linear mixed models analysis of variance to account for missing data. All randomized participants were utilized in the model (ITT analysis).

This outcome measure is reported as an additional effect beyond that of Outcome Measure 1 (each component has it's own weight loss effect that is above and beyond the weight change calculated in the Outcome Measure 1 analyses).

From Baseline to Month 6

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Intervention for <$500
Time Frame: 6 months
Using the results from primary aim 1, an intervention with only active treatment components with the largest treatment effect that can be obtained for implementation costs of $500 or less was identified and built.
6 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Treatment Adherence
Time Frame: 6 months
Treatment adherence is a hypothesized mediator that will be operationalized as the number of treatment sessions completed divided by the number of treatment sessions offered (12 or 24)
6 months
Self-monitoring Adherence
Time Frame: 6 months
Self-monitoring is a hypothesized mediator that will be operationalized as the number of days recording weight, dietary intake, and physical activity
6 months
Self-efficacy
Time Frame: 6 months
Self-efficacy is an exploratory mediator that will be assessed to examine treatment effects on confidence about performing two categories of behaviors associated with weight loss: diet and physical activity
6 months
Self-Regulation
Time Frame: 6 months
Self-regulation is an exploratory mediator that will be assessed using the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire
6 months
Supportive Accountability
Time Frame: 6 months
Supportive accountability is an exploratory mediator that will be measured by assessing two constructs that define supportive accountability: therapeutic alliance and perceived autonomy support
6 months
Facilitation
Time Frame: 6 months
Facilitation is an exploratory mediator that will be measured by rating how much the tools provided by the study have changed their environment and by the Weight Management Support Inventory
6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Linda Collins, PhD, Penn State University

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

September 1, 2013

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

September 20, 2017

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

September 20, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 15, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 15, 2013

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

March 19, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

February 1, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 12, 2023

Last Verified

January 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NIH NIDDK R01DK097364-01
  • R01DK097364-01 (NIH)

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.

Clinical Trials on Weight Loss

Clinical Trials on 12 Telephone Coaching Sessions

Subscribe