Remote vs In Person Weight Loss Study

A Mixed Retrospective-prospective, Observational Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Counselling in a Remote Setting Compared to an In-person Setting on Weight Loss, in Obese Patients With Body Mass Index > 35 Kg/m2 and Enrolled in the Behaviour Modification Program at the Bariatric Centre of Excellence at St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created fear, financial difficulties and interruptions in the lives of patients and healthcare providers. As a result, many patients suffering from chronic conditions such as obesity have had their treatment disrupted by the pandemic. The Bariatric Medical Weight Management Clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton transitioned its weight loss and maintenance counselling classes to a remote (online) platform in response to the pandemic. The remote weight loss and maintenance classes allows patients to continue receiving treatment for obesity from their homes. The remote weight loss and maintenance program is conducted on a safe platform that has been thoroughly reviewed and approved by St. Joseph's Privacy Committees.

The aim of this study is to learn whether the remote weight loss and maintenance classes can lead to similar weight loss compared to the in-person weight loss and maintenance classes that were offered to patients before the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also aims to gather feedback about the program to improve its delivery and patients' experiences.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obesity
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Remote Behaviour Modification Program; Other: In Person Behaviour Modification Program

Detailed Description

The COVID-19 pandemic has created fear, financial difficulties and interruptions in the lives of patients and healthcare providers. As a result, many patients suffering from chronic conditions such as obesity have had their treatment disrupted by the pandemic. The Bariatric Medical Weight Management Clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton transitioned its behaviour modification program, also known as weight loss and maintenance counselling classes, to a remote (online) platform in response to the pandemic. The remote weight loss and maintenance classes allow patients to continue receiving treatment for obesity from their homes.

This is a 26-week, single-centre, mixed retrospective and prospective, observational study evaluating the efficacy of counselling in a remote setting compared to an in-person setting in achieving weight loss among adult patients with obesity enrolled in the behaviour modification program. This study also aims to gather feedback about the program to improve its delivery and patients' experiences.

Approximately 120 patients participating in the behaviour modification program and providing informed consent will be observed in this study. This study involves a prospective and retrospective component. The prospective component will be an observational study of 60 subjects who will receive 26-weeks of weight loss and maintenance counselling in a remote setting and a low-calorie meal replacement as part of their usual care. The retrospective component will involve using historical data from 60 subjects who received 26-weeks of weight loss and maintenance counselling in an in-person setting and a low-calorie meal replacement as part of their usual care.

Parameters measured as part of standard of care at the start and end of the program, such as body weight, blood pressure and lab tests will be collected for analysis of study endpoints. Participants will also be asked to complete a satisfaction survey at the end. There will be no blinding of patients, study investigators, or data analysts.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 77

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L9C0E3
      • St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Obese patients with Body Mass Index > 35 Kg/m2 and enrolled in the behaviour modification program for weight loss at the Bariatric Centre of Excellence at St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥ 18 years of age
• Enrolled in 26-week BCoE behaviour modification program with meal replacements
• Able and willing to provide signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

- Subjects will be excluded if they contact clinic or study personnel to withdraw consent or withdraw data from the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Remote Weight Loss Behaviour Modification Program with Meal Replacements; This is the prospective study group who will receive 26-weeks of weight loss and maintenance counselling in a remote setting and a low-calorie meal replacement as part of their usual care.	Other: Remote Behaviour Modification Program; The standard of care behaviour modification program for weight loss will be offered virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic (prospective).
In Person Weight Bahaviour Modification Program with Meal Replacements; This is the retrospective study group who received 26-weeks of weight loss and maintenance counselling in person and a low-calorie meal replacement as part of their usual care.	Other: In Person Behaviour Modification Program; The standard of care behaviour modification program for weight loss was offered in person prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (retrospective).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mean Percentage Change in Body Weight	To evaluate the efficacy of counselling in a remote setting compared to an in-person setting in achieving weight loss among adult patients with obesity enrolled in the behaviour modification program	Baseline to Week 26

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patient satisfaction and barriers to participation	Patient satisfaction and barriers to participation associated with the remote weight loss and maintenance program as assessed by the Bariatric Centre of Excellence Virtual Medical Program Satisfaction Survey.	Week 26
Change in blood pressure	Change in blood pressure	Baseline to Week 26
Change in lipid profile	Change in lipid profile including total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein	Baseline to Week 26
Change in fasting blood glucose	Change in fasting blood glucose	Baseline to Week 26
Change in heart rate	Change in heart rate	Baseline to Week 26
Change in HbA1C	Change in HbA1C	Baseline to Week 26

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Tony Chetty, MD, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 16, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 31, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 9, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 1, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): December 8, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 3, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 1, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Body Weight; Body Weight Changes; Weight Loss
• Other Study ID Numbers: Remote v In Person Weight Loss

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No