Becoming United in Lifestyle Decisions (BUILD)

Optimizing a Couples-Based mHealth Intervention for Weight Management

The goal of this project is to investigate how to enhance the effects of an online-only (mHealth) couples weight loss program. This study will use an innovative methodological framework, the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), to test four different strategies for weight loss and partner support in addition to a core intervention (i.e., dyadic action planning, joint feedback on goal progress, autonomy support training, and home environment modifications).

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Overweight and Obesity
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral: Home Environment Modifications; Behavioral: Autonomy Support Training; Behavioral: Joint Feedback; Behavioral: Dyadic Action Planning

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 762
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • Hartford, Connecticut, United States, 06103
      • UConn's Weight Management Research Group

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Married/cohabitating couple - both partners must be eligible
• BMI between 25-55kg/m2
• English speaking/reading
• Have a smartphone and reliable internet access
• Have active email address
• Willing to videoconference

Exclusion Criteria:

• Report being unable to walk 2 blocks without stopping
• Are currently participating in weight loss treatment, have a history of bariatric surgery, or lost ≥5% in the past 6-months
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during the study period
• Report chest pain or loss of consciousness on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
• Report a medical condition that could jeopardize their safety in a weight control program with diet and exercise guidelines
• Report conditions that, in the judgment of the PI, would render them unlikely to follow the protocol (e.g. dementia)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

16

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Condition 1; 1) Core BWL Intervention	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins)
Experimental: Condition 2; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Home Environment Modifications	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Home Environment Modifications; Participants will be trained in how to structure their home environment to support health behavior.
Experimental: Condition 3; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Autonomy Support Training	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Autonomy Support Training; Participants will receive training in how to create an autonomy supportive environment within their marriage/partnership.
Experimental: Condition 4; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Autonomy Support Training; 3) Home Environment Modifications	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Home Environment Modifications; Participants will be trained in how to structure their home environment to support health behavior.; Behavioral: Autonomy Support Training; Participants will receive training in how to create an autonomy supportive environment within their marriage/partnership.
Experimental: Condition 5; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Joint Feedback	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Joint Feedback; Participants will see data on their partner's progress, in addition to their own weight and behavioral data.
Experimental: Condition 6; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Joint Feedback; 3) Home Environment Modifications	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Home Environment Modifications; Participants will be trained in how to structure their home environment to support health behavior.; Behavioral: Joint Feedback; Participants will see data on their partner's progress, in addition to their own weight and behavioral data.
Experimental: Condition 7; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Joint Feedback; 3) Autonomy Support Training	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Autonomy Support Training; Participants will receive training in how to create an autonomy supportive environment within their marriage/partnership.; Behavioral: Joint Feedback; Participants will see data on their partner's progress, in addition to their own weight and behavioral data.
Experimental: Condition 8; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Joint Feedback; 3) Autonomy Support Training; 4) Home Environment Modifications	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Home Environment Modifications; Participants will be trained in how to structure their home environment to support health behavior.; Behavioral: Autonomy Support Training; Participants will receive training in how to create an autonomy supportive environment within their marriage/partnership.; Behavioral: Joint Feedback; Participants will see data on their partner's progress, in addition to their own weight and behavioral data.
Experimental: Condition 9; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Dyadic Action Planning	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Dyadic Action Planning; Participants will develop dyadic action plans together.
Experimental: Condition 10; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Dyadic Action Planning; 3) Home Environment Modifications	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Home Environment Modifications; Participants will be trained in how to structure their home environment to support health behavior.; Behavioral: Dyadic Action Planning; Participants will develop dyadic action plans together.
Experimental: Condition 11; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Dyadic Action Planning; 3) Autonomy Support Training	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Autonomy Support Training; Participants will receive training in how to create an autonomy supportive environment within their marriage/partnership.; Behavioral: Dyadic Action Planning; Participants will develop dyadic action plans together.
Experimental: Condition 12; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Dyadic Action Planning; 3) Autonomy Support Training 4) Home Environment Modifications	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Home Environment Modifications; Participants will be trained in how to structure their home environment to support health behavior.; Behavioral: Autonomy Support Training; Participants will receive training in how to create an autonomy supportive environment within their marriage/partnership.; Behavioral: Dyadic Action Planning; Participants will develop dyadic action plans together.
Experimental: Condition 13; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Dyadic Action Planning; 3) Joint Feedback	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Joint Feedback; Participants will see data on their partner's progress, in addition to their own weight and behavioral data.; Behavioral: Dyadic Action Planning; Participants will develop dyadic action plans together.
Experimental: Condition 14; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Dyadic Action Planning; 3) Joint Feedback; 4) Home Environment Modifications	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Home Environment Modifications; Participants will be trained in how to structure their home environment to support health behavior.; Behavioral: Joint Feedback; Participants will see data on their partner's progress, in addition to their own weight and behavioral data.; Behavioral: Dyadic Action Planning; Participants will develop dyadic action plans together.
Experimental: Condition 15; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Dyadic Action Planning; 3) Joint Feedback; 4) Autonomy Support Training	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Autonomy Support Training; Participants will receive training in how to create an autonomy supportive environment within their marriage/partnership.; Behavioral: Joint Feedback; Participants will see data on their partner's progress, in addition to their own weight and behavioral data.; Behavioral: Dyadic Action Planning; Participants will develop dyadic action plans together.
Experimental: Condition 16; 1) Core BWL Intervention; 2) Dyadic Action Planning; 3) Joint Feedback; 4) Autonomy Support Training; 5) Home Environment Modifications	Behavioral: Core Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL) intervention; Behavioral weight loss core (lessons, self weighing, self-monitoring, individual action planning, feedback and progress check ins); Behavioral: Home Environment Modifications; Participants will be trained in how to structure their home environment to support health behavior.; Behavioral: Autonomy Support Training; Participants will receive training in how to create an autonomy supportive environment within their marriage/partnership.; Behavioral: Joint Feedback; Participants will see data on their partner's progress, in addition to their own weight and behavioral data.; Behavioral: Dyadic Action Planning; Participants will develop dyadic action plans together.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body Weight (kg)	Weight change from baseline to 6 months. Weight will be objectively measured on a digital scale in the participant's home and weight change will be calculated.	Baseline to 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Goal Coordination (Wingrove Goal Coordination Scale)	Goal coordination (the extent to which partners integrate and align their weight management goals) will be measured with the Wingrove Goal Coordination Scale at baseline, 3, and 6 months.	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Transactive Density	Interdependence of partners will be measured with the Inclusion of Others in the Self Scale at baseline, 3, and 6 months.	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Shared Goal Representation	The Important Others Questionnaire will be used to capture shared goal representation at baseline, 3, and 6 months.	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Home Food Environment (Household Food Inventory)	The home food environment will be measured with the Household Food Inventory, administered at baseline, 3, and 6 months.	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Home Exercise Environment (Exercise Environment Questionnaire)	The home exercise environment will be measured with the Exercise Environment Questionnaire, administered at baseline, 3, and 6 months.	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Dietary Intake	Dietary intake will be assessed at baseline and 3 months as a hypothesized behavioral mediator and at 6 months as a secondary outcome measure.	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Physical Activity (Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire)	Physical activity will be assessed using the Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire at baseline and 3 months as a hypothesized behavioral mediator and at 6 months as a secondary outcome measure.	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Connecticut
• Collaborators: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 13, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 21, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): April 3, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 5, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: couples; weight control; mobile weight loss treatment
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Overweight; Obesity; Investigative Techniques; Methods
• Other Study ID Numbers: HR22-0023; 1R01DK132386-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No