Evaluation of a Commercial Program on Weight Loss and Health Outcomes

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female over age 18. Set "soft quotas" on the number of male and female participants - The desire is to have a 90% female / 10% male split.
• With or without previous Weight Watchers experience. Set quota on the number of participants with previous Weight Watchers experience at 65%.
• Self reported height/weight resulting in a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 to 43 kg/m2 (will re-screen at facility).
• Self report that he/she feels the need to lose weight.
• Willing to discontinue any current over-the-counter (OTC) supplements not recommended/prescribed by physician, with the exception of multivitamins or other vitamin supplement.
• Willing to follow recommendations required by study protocol.
• Willing to include demographic information (e.g., ethnicity, income and education).
• Willing to participate in consumer surveys and focus groups as a part of the intervention.
• Use of a personal smartphone on a daily basis. For Android devices, must be version 4.4 (code: KitKat) or 5.0 (codename: Lollipop). For iPhones, must be iOS6 and above. Cannot accommodate Blackberry devices.
• The willingness and ability to navigate and use applications on their smartphone on a daily basis (minimum training will be provided).
• Reliable home WiFi access

• Ability to commit to attending up to 27 study visits in approximately 26 weeks:

  • Ability to commit (to best of their ability) to attending weekly meetings, 30-60 minutes in duration, at the same day and time each week for 24 consecutive weeks (daytime and evening options will be available).
  • Ability to commit to up to 3 additional study visits at Weeks 0, 12, and 24, each approximately 90 minutes in duration, to complete assessments (height, weight, questionnaires, physical measures).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants that are currently following a commercial weight-loss program.
• Participants that have been involved in a related market research program within the last 6 months.
• Pregnant or nursing, or planning on becoming pregnant over the next 9 months.
• Recent weight loss of ≥ 5 kg in the previous 3 months.
• History of clinically diagnosed eating disorder.
• Orthopedic limitations preventing participation in regular physical activity.
• Untreated thyroid disease or > 1 change in dose or type of thyroid medication over previous 6 months.

• Taking any prescription medication with known effects on appetite or weight.

  *With the exception of subjects on a stable dose of SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) for 6 months.

• Taking oral steroids.
• Chronic/inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders (irritable bowel syndrome acceptable).
• Previous surgical procedure for weight loss.
• Major surgery within the previous 3 months.
• History of heart problems (e.g., angina, bypass surgery, MI, etc) within previous 3 months.
• Presence of implanted cardiac defibrillator or pacemaker.
• Uncontrolled hypertension self-reported BP > 160/100mmHg)
• Diuretic use for hypertension over 1.5mg per day
• Diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• History of presence of cancer (completely respected basal or squamous cell carcinoma acceptable if treatment completed more than 6 months prior to enrollment).
• Consuming more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week or not more than 3 drinks per day.
• Planning to relocate in the next 9 months
• Any orthopedic limitation preventing participation in regular physical activity.