Weight Loss Goals and Satisfaction Survey
April 13, 2026 updated by: Samantha Kennedy, PhD, Pennington Biomedical Research Center
An Evaluation of 3D Visualization Tools and Their Effect on Weight Loss Goals and Satisfaction
The goal of this observational survey pilot study is to learn how 3D visualization tools (i.e., personalized avatars) influence weight loss goals, satisfaction, confidence, and commitment compared to numerical weight outcomes in weight loss-seeking adults.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- What are contemporary weight loss goals (defined as dream, happy, acceptable, and disappointing weight loss outcomes), and how do they compare to goals reported in prior studies?
- Does presenting weight loss outcomes using personalized 3D avatars result in different levels of satisfaction compared to presenting equivalent outcomes numerically as body weight?
- Do predictive 3D avatars affect participants' confidence and commitment to achieving weight loss differentially than numerical weight loss goals?
Researchers will compare visual (3D avatar-based) weight loss outcomes to numerical (pounds lost) weight loss outcomes to see if visual presentation lowers satisfaction with potential weight loss and alters confidence and commitment.
Participants will:
- Complete a one-time online survey
- Provide demographic and self-reported anthropometric information to generate personalized 3D avatars
- Report weight loss goals and rate satisfaction with potential weight loss outcomes shown numerically and as 3D avatars.
- Complete questionnaires assessing psychological and behavioral weight-related factors.
Study Overview
Status
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Study Type
Observational
Enrollment (Estimated)
250
Contacts and Locations
This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.
Study Contact
- Name: Samantha Kennedy, PhD
- Phone Number: (225) 229-5287
- Email: sam.kennedy@pbrc.edu
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
- Adult
- Older Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Sampling Method
Non-Probability Sample
Study Population
The study population consists of weight loss-seeking adults aged 18 years and older with a body mass index (BMI) of 24.5 kg/m² or greater.
Participants are recruited from the general population through online advertisements and represent a broad range of demographic backgrounds.
Individuals must be willing to complete an online survey and provide self-reported demographic and anthropometric information necessary for generating personalized 3D body visualizations.
Individuals with a history of body shape-altering procedures are excluded.
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adults over 18 years of age
- BMI ≥ 24.5 kg/m2
- currently seeking weight loss
- Willingness to provide informed consent
- Willingness to answer all questions related to enrollment criteria and provide the necessary information to render a personalized avatar, including sex, age, race/ethnicity, weight, and height.
Exclusion Criteria:
• History of body shape-altering procedures (i.e., breast augmentation, bariatric surgery, amputation)
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
Cohorts and Interventions
Group / Cohort |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Weight Loss-Seeking Adults
Participants are presented with personalized, predictive 3D digital avatars representing their current body shape and projected changes in body shape across increasing levels of weight loss.
Avatars are generated using participants' self-reported demographic and anthropometric information.
Weight loss outcomes presented visually via avatars are compared within participants to equivalent outcomes presented numerically as body weight (in pounds) to evaluate differences in weight loss satisfaction, confidence, and commitment.
|
Participants are exposed to a structured visualization task in which projected weight loss outcomes are presented in two formats.
Outcomes are displayed visually using personalized 3D body avatars depicting changes in body shape across increasing levels of weight loss, and numerically as corresponding body weights.
Responses to each presentation format are collected to evaluate differences in weight loss-related satisfaction, confidence, and commitment.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Weight Loss Goals
Time Frame: assessed once during the online survey
|
Self-reported dream, happy, acceptable, and disappointing weight loss goals, reported as body weight and calculated percent reduction from current body weight.
|
assessed once during the online survey
|
|
Weight Loss Satisfaction
Time Frame: assessed once during the online survey
|
Participant-reported satisfaction with hypothetical weight loss outcomes presented across increasing percentages of total body weight loss, shown both visually using personalized 3D avatars and numerically as body weight.
Satisfaction is rated on a 10-point scale.
|
assessed once during the online survey
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Confidence in Achieving Weight Loss
Time Frame: assessed once during the online survey
|
Participant-reported confidence in their ability to achieve projected weight loss outcomes presented visually (3D avatars) and numerically (body weight), assessed across increasing levels of weight loss.
|
assessed once during the online survey
|
|
Commitment to Weight Loss
Time Frame: assessed once during the online survey
|
Participant-reported commitment to pursuing weight loss at varying outcome levels, evaluated for both visual (avatar-based) and numerical presentations.
|
assessed once during the online survey
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Samantha Kennedy, PhD, Pennington Biomedical Research Center
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 (Estimated)
August 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
September 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
September 1, 2026
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
April 13, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
April 13, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
April 21, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
April 21, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
April 13, 2026
Last Verified
April 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- PBRC 2026-010
- T32DK064584 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
- U24DK132740 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
UNDECIDED
IPD Plan Description
Data will be available by the PI upon reasonable request.
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
No
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