A Technology-Based Intervention for the Reduction of Overweight and Obesity Among College Students

"The UTK Health Study" A Technology-Based Weight Loss Intervention for the Reduction of Overweight and Obesity Among College Students."

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and acceptability and efficacy of a two month technology-based weight loss program for overweight and obese college students.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Overweight and Obesity
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Intervention group; Behavioral: attention control condition

Detailed Description

A randomized controlled trial design will be employed to investigate the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of a technology-based weight loss pilot intervention for the reduction of overweight and obesity in college students. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (1) 8-week intervention group, or (2) 8-week attention control group. Both conditions include 8 weekly lessons over 8 weeks. Undergraduate students (n=100) age 18-22 years who are overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) will be recruited from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Measurements will be taken at baseline and 8 weeks. Since the study is a technology-based intervention, research staff will collect height and weight measures for BMI through a novel approach, utilizing Skype video conferencing.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 23
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Tennessee
    • Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, 37996
      • University of Tennessee

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 22 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligibility will include UTK undergraduate students who are overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and between 18-22 years of age, with access to the Internet, a personal computer (laptop, tablet, or desktop computer), and a smartphone.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any individual who does not meet all the inclusion criteria will be excluded from participation in the study.
• Students who have a medical condition that precludes adherence to dietary recommendations
• Who are currently prescribed medications that may impact weight, or who are currently participating in or planning to participate in another weight loss programs in the next six months
• Who have been diagnosed with a major psychiatric illness (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or depression) within the last 12 months
• Who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the next six months
• Who have given birth within the last six months
• Who have been diagnosed with any type of eating disorder within the past 12 months will be ineligible.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Lifestyle counseling; The intervention condition will contain multiple components: nutrition education, physical activity, social support, social media (Pinterest and Facebook), and smartphone applications for self-monitoring. Students in this condition will have access to the private study website, which will be the central platform for delivery of the program materials and social support. The website, developed using Wordpress.com, will include nutrition materials, exercise videos, a forum, and links to the study's Facebook and Pinterest pages	Behavioral: Intervention group
Active Comparator: attention control condition; Students randomized to the attention control condition will receive educational emails three times per week. Nutrition materials will be sent once a week, and links to the YouTube exercise videos will be sent twice a week. At the start of the program, students will be emailed a link to the Pandora workout station. The materials sent to the control group will be the same materials posted on the website for the intervention group. Participants will access the emailed lessons and videos each week at their own convenience. Individuals in the attention control condition will not have access to the study website or social media pages.	Behavioral: attention control condition

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
body mass index (BMI)	2 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
feasibility	A mixed methods approach, including online surveys and focus groups, was employed to assess the feasibility of the pilot study. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment and retention data and self-reported records of participant engagement.	2 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
acceptability	Participants in both groups completed an online post-intervention survey. Data were collected and compiled through SurveyMonkey. Surveys were comprised of a combination of closed-ended and open-ended questions. Participants completed text-based focus group using Skype group messaging. Participants were asked to provide feedback on each technology tool in the program, the website, methods of delivery, the duration of the program, and the overall program. A benefit was that the online tools allowed students to maintain anonymity, which could have encouraged participation and sharing.	2 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 28, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 18, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): July 21, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 21, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 18, 2014
• Last Verified: July 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: obesity; overweight; Technology; College Students
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Body Weight; Obesity; Overweight
• Other Study ID Numbers: 9271B