Improving Weight Management at VA: Enhancing the MOVE!23 for Primary Care (CDA 10-206)
Phase: NA
Conditions: Obesity
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
 
TITLE: Improving Weight Management at the VA: Using the MOVE! Toward Your Goals tool in Primary Care 
(Awardee/ PI: Melanie Jay, MD MS) 
 
SPECIFIC AIMS 
 
Veterans shoulder a disproportionate burden of obesity and its co-morbidities, including diabetes, hypertension, 
and hyperlipidemia.  Modest weight loss in obese patients through diet and exercise improves health and prevents 
chronic disease, but primary care providers (PCPs) often fail to adequately counsel patients about their weight due to 
lack of time and training. Thus, tools and brief interventions are needed to support providers’ behavior change 
counseling. The VA currently offers the MOVE! program to treat overweight and obese patients, but only 9% of eligible 
patients attend. At the same time, Veterans on average see their PCPs 3.6 times per year, which supports the 
importance of developing primary care (PC)-based interventions. The United States Preventive Services Task force 
(USPSTF) recommends the use of the 5As framework (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) for counseling patients 
about weight.  
Interactive behavior change technologies utilizing expert system software programs are an innovative way to 
facilitate 5As counseling to promote behavior change in primary care. These programs perform computerized risk, 
lifestyle, and theory- based, behavioral assessment to provide computer-generated, tailored advice to patients. They 
also can provide information to healthcare teams. The MOVE!11 software is an expert system program for VA patients 
referred to MOVE!, but is not currently used in primary care by Patient-Aligned Care Teams (PACT). 
Collaborative goal setting can be used to achieve behavior change in this intervention. This construct, a critical 
component of several behavior change theories and models and corresponding to “agree” in the 5As model, has been 
widely recommended for health promotion in primary care.  Our formative work (MIRB #01333) using key informant 
interviews with PACT teamlets and MOVE! staff and focus groups with Veterans demonstrated that goal setting is 
feasible and acceptable to patients and PACT teamlets and provided insight on barriers to goal setting, and ways to 
facilitate goal-setting conversations.  
During the development phase of this project, we developed a primary care-based intervention called MOVE! 
Toward Your Goals (MTG) to facilitate weight management within primary care and increase adoption of intensive VA 
programs such as MOVE!. The MTG intervention uses a new MTG software tool (that we developed) delivered on tablets 
to facilitate 5As-based weight management counseling with a health coach and healthcare team to promote goal-
setting, behavior change, and weight loss in the primary care setting. The Veteran also receives follow up with 10-15 
health coaching calls over 1 year.  
As part of a pilot study for a larger, multicenter trial, we will randomize 160 subjects to receive either Enhanced 
Usual Care or the MTG Intervention.  
 
Primary Aim: To explore differences in feasibility, acceptability, and intermediate, behavioral, and weight loss outcomes 
at 3, 6 and 12 months pre- and post-intervention between the MTG intervention and Enhanced Usual Care. We will 
explore differences within each arm and compare the 2 intervention arms.   
 
Hypothesis: Among obese VA PC patients in an urban primary care practice, a brief, interactive computer- assisted 
intervention will result in significant improvements in intermediate (self-efficacy, intention, and motivation to change 
lifestyle behaviors), behavioral (diet and physical activity improvements, adherence to MOVE!), and weight loss 
outcomes at 3, 6 and 12 months. 
 
Exploratory Aim: To compare the intervention arm to a third study arm of non-enrolled PC patients matched for age, 
gender, and BMI (“Usual Care”). 
 
 
 
 
 
 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
 
 
RESEARCH PLAN 
 
A. BACKGROUND/SIGNIFICANCE 
 
 
VETERANS/OBESITY 
The burden of obesity among Veterans is substantial, and modest weight loss can have significant benefit. The 
majority of Americans are either overweight or obese1 and obesity is associated with higher mortality.2 Approximately 
36-37% of patients seen at the VA are obese,3,4 and obese patients have a high degree of chronic disease. For instance, 
84% of obese Veterans have hypertension, 78% have hyperlipidemia, and 45% have diabetes.4 Modest weight loss (7%) 
via a 16-session program can reduce the risk of diabetes in high-risk patients by 58%.5  Thus, the United States 
Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all patients are screened for obesity and offered intensive lifestyle 
counseling.6 
The VA offers the MOVE! program, an intensive lifestyle behavior change program, nationally. Patients who 
attended 2 or more MOVE! sessions lost 2.6 pounds more over 6 months than matched controls.7  They were also more 
likely to have clinically significant (>5%) weight loss (19% vs. 12%) and less likely to gain weight (29% vs. 38%).7 Another 
study of MOVE! demonstrated improved weight loss trajectories (-1.6kg/yr) compared to weight gain (+2kg/yr) prior to 
enrollment.8 Unfortunately, many obese patients are either unwilling or unable to attend intensive weight management 
programs, and barriers are poorly understood. Only 8% of eligible patients attend at least 1 MOVE! visit9. While this is 
partly due to poor patient adherence to the MOVE! program, another reason is variable implementation of MOVE! 
across VA sites. In addition, while one of the goals of the MOVE! program was to integrate weight management into 
primary care (PC), in practice, this program often operates more like a specialty service where treatment is provided 
outside of the PC visit or setting where patients receive frequent care.   
 
 
PACT 
The PC setting is critical to reducing the burden of obesity; primary care-based interventions have a broad 
potential reach. The VA/Department of Defense (DOD) guidelines for screening and management of overweight and 
obesity recommend that providers treat all patients with obesity.10 Veterans in the VA system see a primary care 
provider (PCP) an average of 3.6 times per year,11 providing multiple opportunities for weight management counseling 
and referral to MOVE!. PC is an important venue to promote weight loss, and effective PC-based interventions can have 
a significant public health impact. Physicians’ and other providers’ counseling is associated with positive behavioral and 
weight-loss outcomes.12,13 However, PCPs frequently fail to effectively counsel obese patients to lose weight.14,15 This is 
due to lack of training,16 poor competency,17 perceived lack of effectiveness,18 and competing demands on time during 
the medical visit.19 PCPs may fail to recognize that a patient is obese. In a recent study, only 53.5% of obese patients at 
the VA had an obesity diagnosis in their electronic medical record.4 Those that had a diagnosis of obesity were much 
more likely to receive counseling.4 Thus, interventions are needed to support physicians’ and other providers’ obesity 
identification and counseling. 
To improve counseling opportunities and enhance care coordination during a primary care visit, the VA adopted 
a patient centered medical home model called Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) in 2010. The PACT model provides a 
team-based, patient-centered approach to health care that utilizes a multidisciplinary practice team that includes a RN 
Care Manager, a Clinical Associate (LPN), and Administrative Associate, and the primary care provider (the “teamlet”) as 
well as social workers, dietitians, and specialists (other team members) to deliver patient-centered care.9,20 This recent 
implementation of PACT provides the opportunity for longitudinal, team-based care that is integrated with the MOVE! 
program. However, in the 2013 MOVE! progress report, the majority (55%) of VA sites surveyed reported that MOVE! 
programs were separate from PACT.21 Improving weight management counseling by PACT teamlets could increase 
patient motivation to attend the MOVE! program and facilitate weight loss for those who do not attend.  
 
 
THE 5As 
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that providers use the 5As framework 
to counsel patients for weight management. This model, which has been shown to promote weight loss and smoking 
cessation,22,23 guides the provider to Assess risk and stage of change, Advise weight loss and behavior change, Agree on 
goals, Assist via addressing barriers (motivational interviewing), and Arrange to follow-up or refer patient for further 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
treatment.24 Our previous work has allowed us to determine which aspects of the 5As framework need to involve the 
healthcare team (e.g. agree and assist) and also identified which are particularly time-consuming (assessing multiple 
behaviors and providing advice).  
 
Computerized interventions may be effective in helping 
deliver 5As-based obesity counseling in the primary care setting. 
Interactive behavior change technologies use expert system 
computer software to evaluate patients’ risk and current 
behaviors (assess), and then generate personalized, tailored 
behavior change advice (advise).25 They have the potential to 
help providers counsel obese patients25 and have been shown 
to facilitate goal setting (agree) and lifestyle behavior change in 
primary care settings,26,27 but have been criticized for not 
including active provider counseling.26,27 Patients want and 
expect their primary care providers to deliver lifestyle and 
weight-loss counseling28 and may be more likely to change their 
lifestyle behavior when counseled by their own provider.16 
Further, patient-provider communication has been directly 
linked to adherence and health outcomes.29 Figure 1 shows 
how the MTG intervention corresponds to the 5As framework. 
 
 
GOAL-SETTING 
Goal setting is a critical component of the MTG  
intervention , corresponds to the “Agree” component of the 5As 
framework24 and is associated with effective weight 
management.26,30 Effective weight loss interventions need to include the patients’ perspective, and having them set 
individualized goals is a strategy supported by many behavior change theories including the Theory of Planned 
Behavior.31 Based on this theory, having an intention to change a behavior predicts behavior change. Thus, forming 
specific goals or “goal intentions” increases the likelihood of behavior chage.32,33 Goal setting is also commonly used to 
promote behavior change in primary care settings34 and fits well into other behavior change theories and models 
including the chronic care model,35 chronic disease self-management programs,36,37 and social cognitive theory.38 A 
systematic review of goal setting for lifestyle behavior change in primary care showed that it was effective in promoting 
diet and physical activity changes.38 Another systematic review showed that technology-assisted interventions combined 
with counseling promoted weight loss.39 Thus, technology-assisted goal setting has the potential to overcome barriers 
and facilitate weight management.  
Health-related goals can be general (losing weight, exercising more) or specific (substituting water for soda, 
attending a weekly aerobics class).34 Goals can be assigned by a health care provider or set collaboratively. 34 Current 
goal setting theory, much of which is derived from occupational psychology literature, states that to maximize goal 
attainment, behavior change goals should be specific, difficult, proximal, and set collaboratively with the 
provider.34,37,40,41 However, less is known about how to best apply goal setting to the primary care setting at the VA or 
the specific socioeconomic,42 environmental, nutrition knowledge and behavior,43,44 and health literacy factors45 that 
may affect goal setting processes and outcomes. Prior to our own qualitative studies (see below), a review of the 
literature revealed no studies examining the barriers, preferences, and facilitators to goal setting in obese VA patients. 
We used this information to optimize the goal setting process for the intervention. 
 
 
RELEVANCE OF PROPOSED RESEARCH TO VA 
The VA is a national leader in providing comprehensive obesity screening and treatment programs. The VA 
currently screens all patients for obesity, and high-risk overweight and obese patients are referred by their provider to 
the MOVE! program to receive comprehensive obesity counseling. Performance measures from the Office of Healthcare 
Transformation (OHT) stipulate that screening for BMI and offer of referral to MOVE! occur for all eligible patients  ( the 
average screening and referral rate is 94%) . The MOVE!11 questionnaire is currently used primarily by the small subset 
of  patients who attend MOVE!  programs (use varies by institution). However, this tool is not currently used for PC 
patients outside of the MOVE! program, and our own formative research showed that it needed increased 
Figure 1: MTG Intervention in the 5As 
framework 
•MTG tool assesses current weight 
management related behaviors and barriers 
ASSESS 
•Patient receives tailored advice by MTG tool 
and health coach. Advice is facilitated by 
educational handouts. 
ADVISE 
•MTG tool guides patient to choose goals. 
Health coach and healthcare team work 
further with patient to agree on goals. 
AGREE 
•Health coach and healthcare team do brief 
motivational interviewing to address barriers 
ASSIST 
•Referral to MOVE! program and/or other 
resources; Health coach follows up with 
telephone counseling. 
ARRANGE 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
functionality in order to help patients use the tailored advice to set behavior change goals.  
 
 
THE MOVE TOWARD YOUR GOALS INTERVENTION:  
To address this need, we developed the MOVE! Toward Your Goals (MTG) tool, a weight management and goal 
setting tool based on the MOVE!11 software, to  support obesity management during the primary care visit. This tool has 
the potential to reach a greater percentage of individuals and may promote increased attendance to more intensive 
treatments (i.e. group therapy, individual counseling, TeleMOVE!) available through the MOVE! program. The MTG tool 
is designed to be part of a 5As, PC-based intervention withinPACT.  Based on our preliminary studies (described below), 
our intervention will include training appropriate members of the PACT teamlets (PCPs, nursing staff) as well as health 
coaches to facilitate goal setting and deliver brief, targeted motivational interviewing to address ambivalence and 
resistance when necessary. 
Figure 2 below illustrates how we will use the MTG intervention within the PACT model to improve delivery of 
obesity care (based on preliminary studies described below). The patient completes the MTG tool  (described in more 
detail below) prior to a PC visit with the assistance of a health coach. The tool facilitates goal setting conversations by 
guiding the patient to answer questions about weight, barriers to weight management, and current behaviors. It then 
provides tailored advice, guiding patients to create initial weight, nutrition, and physical activity goals. The tool then 
generates a personalized report, goal setting worksheets, and tailored educational materials. The health coach and 
patient use these tools to collaboratively refine and discuss specific behavior change goals. A provider report and the 
patient’s preliminary goals are automatically sent to the practice team through a CPRS research note. After checking in 
for a scheduled primary care visit, the patient meets with their RN Care manager and PCP who review the tailored 
advice with the patient and review the goals. Either the RN care manager or PCP collaboratively refines and/or endorses 
the goals and does brief motivational interviewing to address barriers to achieving the goals. They also document these 
goals in CPRS so that they can be addressed during future visits. The patient then has the option of attending the MOVE! 
program and/or goes back to the community/family to work toward his or her behavioral weight management goals. The 
health coach or other member of the PACT team then calls the patient regularly to follow up on the patient’s goal 
attainment (or lack of) will be addressed at subsequent visits.  
 
 
B. PRELIMINARY STUDIES 
 
PFIZER STUDY 
Usability Study with 
Latinas: We conducted usability 
studies of the MOVE!23 software 
with Latina women with various 
levels of computer literacy to work 
with the MOVE!23 software 
application (earlier version of 
MOVE!11) and materials, provide 
feedback about its design, and 
explore its potential application in 
creating weight management 
goals. Although generally well 
received, we found the MOVE!23 
software was only marginally 
effective at facilitating goal setting. 
Patients had difficulty 
understanding some of the 
questions and interacted with the 
tool more readily when its 
language was familiar and content was personally relevant. When faced with ambiguity and uncertainty, they relied on 
the tool’s visual cues and examples, actively sought relevant personal experiences, and/or requested facilitator support. 
Additionally, they appreciated the tailored health advice that the software provided, but failed to recall information 
needed to create goals and build a weight management plan. This study highlighted the need to develop a new software 
Figure 2: How the MTG Intervention Can Be Incorporated into the 
PACT Model 
 
 
 
 
Community/Family 
Integrated Healthcare System 
PACT teamlet 
Primary Care Provider Visit 
Patient completes 
MOVE! Toward Your 
Goals (MTG) tool 
Patient and 
PACT member 
discuss and 
agree on goals 
PCP does brief 
motivational 
interviewing  
(if needed) 
Patient 
Attends 
MOVE! 
Patient 
achieves 
lifestyle 
goals 
With Health Coach, patient reviews facilitators, 
barriers, and advice, creates SMART goals, and 
discusses VA resources 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
component to facilitate goal setting. Although we did not conduct usability studies of the MOVE!23 with a Veteran 
population, many of our findings still applied and informed the development of our intervention. 
 
 
CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD STUDY – FORMATIVE PHASE 1 
 
Key Informant Interviews: We conducted semi-structured key informant interviews with VA employees working 
within PACT and MOVE! and key administrative staff. The purpose of these interviews was to assess: 1) current attitudes 
and perceptions regarding obesity care; 2) obesity-related counseling practices 3) perceptions and experiences with the 
MOVE! program; and 4) targets for interventions to improve implementation of obesity care in the PC setting. We found 
that perceived role among PCPs was influenced by training, whereas personal experience with their own weight 
management impacted role perception among LPNs/RNs. Attitudes about whether or not they could impact patients' 
weight outcomes via counseling or referral to MOVE! varied. System-level communication about VA priorities through 
electronic health records and time allocation influenced teams to prioritize referral to MOVE! over weight management 
and lifestyle behavior change counseling. Overall, we found a diversity of attitudes, and practices within PACT, and 
identified factors that can enhance MOVE! implementation and inform interventions to improve weight management 
within PC. Most importantly, this study highlighted PACT teamlet barriers to obesity care and thus, we decided to train 
and incorporate health coaches in our intervention rather than rely exclusively on the PACT teamlet to help set initial 
weight management and lifestyle goals.  
 
Patient Focus Groups: We conducted focus groups with Veteran patients to assess: 1) attitudes, barriers, and 
facilitators to healthy behavior change; 2) uses and understanding of goal setting; and 3) weight management-related 
experiences with health care providers in the PC setting, technology, and the MOVE! program. We found that military 
service continued to impact Veterans’ lifestyles even years after service. We also identified individual/interpersonal-, 
community/environment-, and healthcare system-related factors affecting healthy behaviors. We found that Veterans 
want counseling and weight management advice from the health care team to be tailored to their individual preferences 
and needs. Findings from this study support offering more opportunities for weight management counseling within 
PACT teamlets where Veterans are seen frequently. Additionally, many of Veterans have used technology to assist in 
making health decisions and/or managing their weight, supporting the use of incorporating technology, particularly 
tablet computers as opposed desktop computers, into weight management interventions as long as there is adequate 
support or alternatives. 
 
 
CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD STUDY – DEVELOPMENT PHASE II  
 
MTG Tool Development and Usability Testing: Based on findings from our Formative Phase I studies, we 
developed an interactive online tool, MOVE! Toward Your Goals (MTG), to facilitate goal setting for lifestyle behavior 
change within the PC setting at the VA, as well as conducted usability testing to further refine this tool and understand 
best strategies for its use among Veterans. It was designed at a 5th grade literacy level with low text density per page 
and simple navigation. The MTG tool uses the following algorithm: The patient completes a questionnaire about weight, 
barriers to weight loss, and lifestyle behaviors; each answer generates tailored weight loss or behavior change advice.  
The patient then indicates how much weight he or she wants to lose and assigns a number (1-10) indicating the 
perceived importance of each piece of advice. Based on this information, the tool guides the patient to choose a weight 
loss goal, up to 2 nutrition goals, and a physical activity goal. The tool then provides links for the health coach (or 
healthcare team member) to print out an individualized patient summary (health advice and initial goals), SMART goal 
setting worksheet, VA weight management resources, tailored educational handouts, and a report for the coach. The 
role of the coach is to help the patient make the goals “SMART” (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-
based), address potential barriers, and link the patient to more intensive VA and community resources.  
Usability testing of the MTG tool with Veterans suggested that the MTG tool can facilitate collaborative goal 
setting. Veterans appreciated the clean visual layout, the in-person support while using the tool, and had a strong 
positive reaction to the health coaching session and personalized binder of printouts. They left the session feeling 
motivated to work on their goals.  Barriers to tool use were identified including problems with tool navigation, tablet 
use, and unclear wording of some questions. These informed iterative changes and refinement of the tool.  
 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
5As Intervention Development: As part of our Formative Phase I studies, we conducted Veteran focus groups and 
interviews with key VA PACT and MOVE! staff to assess a proposed brief intervention based on the 5As where patients 
use an online tool to create health goals and then bring these goals and advice discussed with their health coach to 
members of the PACT teamlets during their primary care visit.). Participants were also asked about their experiences 
with goal setting, weight management, and technology. Both Veterans and VA staff held positive views toward the use 
of goal setting for healthy behavior change and stressed the importance of social support in achieving goals. Veterans 
and staff appreciated that the intervention would provide individualized counseling from the healthcare team to achieve 
goals. Veterans did not want technology to replace human support. Physicians and nurses felt that time constraints 
would be a barrier to implementation, indicating that they could not spend more than 3-5 minutes on weight 
management. As a result, the revised intervention will use health coaches to provide support for the online tool and 
initial counseling about weight loss and lifestyle goals to allow the healthcare team to focus their time on brief 
counseling to address barriers and endorse goals. 
 
Based on this formative work, we have developed the following components of the intervention and measures: 
(subject to change based on the results from our ongoing pilot testing): 
 
- 
Pre-/Post-surveys: We developed survey measures to be taken before and after the MTG tool to gather demographic 
information, as well as assess computer use, knowledge/participation in MOVE! programs, experiences with PACT, 
health literacy, their social/physical environment, quality of life, social support, level of patient activation, motivation 
to lose weight, self-efficacy, diet, and physical activity behaviors. Most of the question items are taken from validated 
measures. 
 
- 
Health coaching Training: The literature supports the use of patient navigators or health coaches46 who will help 
patients refine their goals and teach them how to discuss their lifestyle goals with their provider. At the Manhattan 
VA, RN Care Managers within the PACT teamlets currently receive training related to motivational interviewing and 
behavior change. Although our initial plan was to train RN Care Managers, based on our formative work, we found 
that RN Care Managers at the VA have very limited time to discuss lifestyle goals and behavior change with patients. 
Thus, we will be training research team members to be Health Coaches to guide patients through our intervention, 
specifically to use our MTG tool, review tailored advice, and assist patients with setting initial weight loss and 
behavior change goals. Specifically, health coaches will receive training in motivational interviewing, the 5As 
framework for obesity counseling, as well as MOVE! training to learn and thus advise patients about to the different 
weight management programs and resources available to them at the VA.  
 
- 
Brief provider counseling training: After patients complete the MTG tool and create goals with their Health Coach, 
patients will briefly discuss their goals with their RN care manager or primary care provider who will endorse and/or 
improve upon the initial goals and address barriers at each visit. We will shorten and adapt a 5-hour obesity 
curriculum 47,48 that currently teaches obesity management, goal setting, and motivational interviewing to 
incorporate the current attitudes of the providers and the preferences, facilitators, and barriers of the patients into 
the curriculum. This will include role-playing and supervised practice of delivering brief counseling within a 
reasonable time frame for standard primary care visits. An academic detailing approach will be used to train PACT 
members in order to tailor the curriculum to each individual. 
 
- 
CPRS Research Note/Reminders: The MTG tool creates a provider reported that will be cut and pasted into CPRS as a 
research note to summarize and communicate to the patient’s PACT team the weight management discussions and 
initial goals agreed on between the patient and health coach. It includes the patient’s self-reported BMI, risk-level, 
importance/confidence in controlling weight, level of social support, weight loss goal and SMART nutrition and 
physical activity goals, barriers, current behaviors, and interested VA resources.  Completion of this note generates a 
reminder within CPRS for the PCP or RN care manager to read the research note, document whether they discussed 
the goals, resources, and barriers, and also document any additions or changes to the weight management plan. 
This research note and reminder system will also be used to document Health Coach telephone counseling as well as 
subsequent primary care visits by the patient. 
 
- 
Developing telephone counseling model: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends providing more than 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
monthly counseling sessions within the first three months.6 To increase the likelihood of achieving meaningful 
patient weight loss, we will incorporate 10-15 telephone counseling sessions over 12 months. Most successful PC- 
based counseling interventions have between 5-16 interactions within a 9-12 month period.  Health Coaches will be 
trained to call to review the patients’ goal and personalized advice, monitor goal adherence, set new goals when 
appropriate, and use motivational interviewing techniques to address barriers to behavior change. This is an optimal 
way to increase the impact of the intervention since higher frequency interventions are associated with better 
weight loss outcomes49,50 and frequent goal setting is more effective.30 Further, telephone contact may be just as 
effective as face-to-face contact and is more cost-effective.49 Increasing the proportion of telephone visits is one of 
the T21 transformational initiatives and will become standard of care. A subset of participants will receive video 
conferencing calls instead of traditional telephone counseling to assess feasibility of this method of interaction as 
well.  
 
C. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS  
 
OVERVIEW 
 
The first 10-12  participants in the MTG intervention will 
not be randomized to ensure that the intervention can be 
implemented within PACT. We will then conduct a 
randomized, controlled pilot study in the VA NYHHS primary 
care clinic to test the feasibility of implementation and 
acceptability of the MOVE! Toward your Goals (MTG) 
intervention for patients and providers. There are two 
distinct phases of the randomized intervention: Pilot Phase 1 
and Pilot Phase 2. We will assess intermediate (e.g. self-
efficacy, goal attainment, motivation to lose weight), 
behavioral (diet and physical activity) outcomes, and weight 
loss at 3, 6, and 12 months. Pilot Phase 2 is a continuation of 
Pilot Phase 1, however the methods of recruitment and 
sequence of events will be modified to maximize ease and 
enrollment.  
 
In both phases, we will train participating PACT 
teamlets and health coaches to facilitate goal setting and 
conduct motivational interviewing to facilitate goal setting 
and conduct brief telephone counseling so that they can 
deliver the intervention. We will recruit primary care 
patients and randomize to either receive the MTG 
intervention or Enhanced Usual Care. On the first Baseline 
study visit, all participants will complete a Baseline Survey 
and obtain weight and height measurements.  
Those in the MTG intervention group will then 
complete the MTG tool on a tablet computer, receive a 
binder of personalized materials generated by the tool, and 
receive a 15-20 minute counseling session about weight loss 
and lifestyle goals with a Health Coach (research team 
member). Participants randomized to the Enhanced Usual 
Care control will receive a handout about local MOVE! 
programs and selected VA MOVE! and Healthy Living Message handouts related to weight management.   
After this Baseline study visit, participants in the MTG intervention group will receive 10-15 follow up counseling 
phone calls with the health coach to review goals over a 12 month period. In Pilot Phase 1, participants will meet with 
their PCP during their regularly scheduled visit before taking an exit survey. In Pilot Phase 2, participants will meet with 
their PCPs at any point during the course of the one year intervention.  During the visit, RN care managers and the PCPs 
will be prompted in CPRS to read a CPRS Research Note entered by a Health Coach. It will summarize the 
Figure 3: Study Design Flowchart 
 
 
Patient completes Baseline Survey 
Patient receives 
Enhanced Usual Care 
Patient receives 
MTG Intervention 
Regular PACT visits as needed 
Telephone counseling 
 
3-month follow-up study visit in-person 
6-month follow-up study visit in-person 
12-month follow-up study visit in-person 
Regular PACT visits as needed 
Telephone counseling 
 
Regular PACT visits as needed 
Telephone counseling 
 
Regular PACT visit (same-day or at any point during 1 year) 
Patient completes Exit Survey 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
interaction/discussion with the patient during the Baseline study visit, as well as any goals made or barriers discussed 
with the health coach (if the patient was randomized into the MTG Intervention arm). The PACT member may briefly 
counsel patients about lifestyle and weight. The PACT member will summarize this interaction in a specific CPRS note. 
Following the PCP visit, patients will be asked a series of questions about their experience during their baseline 
appointment (Pilot Phase 1) or at any of the follow-up research visits at the 3, 6, or 12 month mark (Pilot Phase 2). For 
all participants, we will measure intermediate and behavior change outcomes at 3-, 6- and 12-months via an in-person 
study visit. Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of the study.  
 
 
 
DESIGN 
 
Inclusion and Exclusion criteria of study participants: Criteria will include: aged 21-70 (this age range represents 96% of 
MOVE! participants 51) and a Body Mass Index of ≥30kg/m2 or a Body Mass Index of ≥25 with two or more co-morbidities 
based on NIH weight loss guidelines.52 Individuals with a documented current history of substance abuse, diabetes, 
active psychosis, cognitive impairment, severe arthritis, valvular disease, cardiac arrhythmia, pregnancy, or other 
conditions limiting physical activity will be excluded. Patients who say they cannot read, do not have access to a 
telephone, and/or will not be available to be contacted at 3, 6, and 12 months for follow up will also be excluded.  
 
Study Sites: The study will be conducted at the New York Harbor VA HCS. In 2009 and 2010, there were 16,000 total 
unique patients in primary care with 6,989 (44%) made by patients with a diagnosis of obesity. The Manhattan campus 
has 22 FTE primary care providers and 14 PACT teamlets with attending providers. Joseph Leung, MD, Director of 
Primary Care and other local PACT and MOVE! leaders have approved this study design and are supportive of PACT 
teamlet and patient participation in this study. 
 
Time Frame: 12 months intervention, 2 year follow up. 
 
Patient recruitment overview: We will recruit a consecutive sample of up to 160 overweight/obese patients (120 
subjects who complete intervention assuming 25% patient dropout) from the VA primary care clinics. Since this is a pilot 
study, we may opt to stop recruitment earlier if study proves to be feasible and/or funding is obtained for a larger, 
cluster randomized efficacy study of the intervention. For Pilot Phase 1, we will obtain an electronic list of obese 
patients with appointments in the next month for participating providers and the RA will review charts for further 
eligibility. Lists of eligible patients will be sent to their respective primary care providers who will be asked to determine 
if any of the patients are medically ineligible to participate (e.g. have a condition where the PCP does not want the 
patient to engage in lifestyle behavior change). Potential participants will then be sent a letter from both the PI and their 
PCP describing the study and giving them the opportunity to opt out (i.e. request not to be contacted). Eligible 
participants will then be offered participation in the study via telephone. This recruitment strategy has been used by my 
mentor, Scott Sherman, MD, MPH, and was approved by the VA IRB.  
 
For Pilot Phase 2, we will allow for participating PCPs to refer patients to the study. PCPs will be allowed to contact 
members of our team via phone or email with the contact information of patients they feel are a good fit for the study. 
As in the previously mentioned strategies, we will send letters to patients before contacting them by phone to explain 
the intervention, run through eligibility criteria, and review their medical charts. We will ask these PCP referred patients 
for permission to review their medical chart to determine medical eligibility. These patients will also be informed that 
they can opt out of receiving information by calling us.  
 
For Pilot Phase 2, we will contact patients from an electronic list of overweight/obese patients who have been seen by 
their PCP in the past six months. From this list, we will mail out batches of recruitment letters (i.e. approximately 100 
letters per week) to let patients know that they might be eligible to participate and that they can call us for more 
information at our study line. As in the aforementioned recruitment strategy, we will inform patients that they can opt 
out of receiving information by calling us.  We will also highlight that we have to ask eligibility questions by phone to 
make sure they can participate. Importantly, before we call, we will e-mail their respective PCPs to ensure that patients 
are medically eligible. After PCP approval, we will contact patients by phone to explain the intervention, run through 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
eligibility criteria, and review their medical charts. We will ask all patients on the phone if it is permissible to review their 
medical chart to determine medical eligibility.   
 
 
PCP and Health Coach Recruitment and Training Overview:  
We will invite 3-10 PCPs to participate in the pilot study by presenting at staff meetings and via word of mouth.  We will 
then ask the RN care managers and LPNs on their PACT teamlets if they would like to participate as well. Only those 
willing to participate will be included in the study and receive training. The training will be less than one hour and 
scheduled either one-on-one or in small groups so as not to interfere with their VA clinical or administrative duties. They 
will review the 5As and practice brief motivational interviewing to augment their previous VA training so they can 
support participants’ weight management and lifestyle goals and address barriers. Based on our formative data, we will 
allow PACT teamlets to decide who will discuss goals/barriers with patients and outline possibilities. 
 
We will train research assistants with either a bachelor’s or master’s degree to serve as health coaches. The health 
coaches will receive additional training based on a previous 5As curriculum I used in as part of an evidence-based 
intervention.53 The health coaches will receive 3-5 hours of training in small groups. They will practice counseling via role 
playing and videotape review. 
 
Study Arms/Randomization: The first 10-12 participants will not be randomized—they will be recruited into the MTG 
intervention group only (see below) and outcomes for this group will be evaluated separately. The purpose of these first 
non-randomized participants is to ensure the feasibility of implementation prior to conducting the randomized portion 
of the pilot study. After screening patients for eligibility and obtaining consent, participants will be randomized (using a 
random number generator) to either the MTG intervention or Enhanced Usual Care.  
 
MTG Intervention group: Participants will arrive to meet us in the 9th floor primary care area.  After completing 
consenting materials and a Baseline Survey, participants will complete the MTG tool. They will then have a brief 
break and snack. After the break, they will work collaboratively with the Health Coach using tool-generated 
materials to modify their goals into SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable relevant, and timely). The 
patient will then receive a binder containing an individualized report with a summary of their personalized 
advice, initial goals, and barriers and facilitators to weight loss. They will also receive a packet of MOVE! 
handouts tailored to their questionnaire responses. The Health Coach will also inform the patient of the 
resources available to them at the VA (e.g. MOVE, TeleMOVE!) that can assist them in achieving their goals. At 
the end of the visit, the Health Coach will enter a research note into the CPRS system detailing the patient’s 
goals and other important information in the form of a provider report for the provider to review (generated by 
the MTG tool). This note will be attached to our administrative non-billable clinic, NYN PACT WEIGHT MGMT 
STUDY. For Pilot Phase 1, after health coaching, patients will meet with their PCP for their regularly schedule 
visit and afterwards complete an exit survey. For Pilot Phase 2, after health coaching, the patient will meet with 
the research team to complete an Exit Survey and then meet with their PCP during a regularly scheduled visit at 
any point during the course of the 1-year study. Based on information from the CPRS report generated by the 
health coach, the PCP will review lifestyle goals and conduct brief motivational interviewing to address potential 
barriers (3-5 minutes).  The PACT member will summarize this interaction in a specific CPRS reminder. Over the 
12 months of the intervention, the PACT teamlet will receive CPRS reminders to discuss the goals with the 
patients when they return for any PC visits. Research team members will contact the PCP directly should any 
serious issue arise while working a patient. Patients will follow up with VA resources if indicated/desired. 
Participants will return for separate 3, 6, and 12 month follow-up study visits to measure intermediate, behavior 
change, and weight outcomes. 
 
- 
Enhanced Usual Care: Participants will arrive prior to scheduled PC visit and complete the same consenting 
materials and Baseline Survey as the intervention group. Instead of the completing the MTG tool and receiving 
health coaching, they will receive weight management handouts (Healthy Living Messages handouts and MOVE! 
handouts) as well as information about intensive weight management programs at the VA including MOVE!. For 
Pilot Phase 1, the patient will then meet with a PACT member (either the PCP or another participating PACT 
member) during their regularly scheduled PC visit and afterwards complete an Exit Survey. For Pilot Phase 2, the 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
patient will meet with their PCP at any point during the course of the study and afterwards complete an Exit 
Survey. Participants will follow-up with their PACT teamlets as needed when they return for their regularly 
scheduled PC visits. Patients will follow up with VA resources if indicated/desired. Enhanced Usual Care 
participants will return for separate 3, 6, and 12 month follow-up study visits to measure intermediate, behavior 
change, and weight outcomes. 
 
 
COMPENSATION 
 
To compensate for travel and time spent completing survey measures and basic measurements, study 
participants will be given a cash voucher in the amount of 40 dollars for the Baseline study visit, 30 dollars for the 3 and 
6 month study visits, and 60 dollars for the 12 month study visit. This proposed payment is reasonable and 
commensurate with the expected contributions of participants and is meant to provide additional incentives for 
participants to complete all 4 study visits. This amount of payment and the terms of the payment are included in the 
informed consent form. This payment is fair and appropriate and does not constitute undue pressure or influence, or 
coercion of, the prospective research participant to volunteer for or continue participation in the research study.  
 
 
POTENTIAL BENEFIT/RISK 
 
Benefits: 
- 
Patients: The patients who participate in the study will have the opportunity to receive weight management 
information, and potentially set lifestyle behavior change goals to improve their diet and increase physical 
activity, which may lead to weight loss and improved health outcomes. Even for patients who do not change 
their lifestyle behaviors, talking about these topics with trained researchers could serve as support or motivation 
to move them closer to doing so in the future.  
 
- 
Providers, RN Care Managers, and other VA employees: VA employees who participate in the study may gain 
improved obesity-related knowledge and patient counseling skills, which could enhance their career, job 
performance, and satisfaction. Specifically, VA employees may have the opportunity to receive (additional) 
training in 5As weight management counseling and practice brief motivational interviewing. Training in these 
could help to facilitate and/or improve discussions around weight management and health behavior change 
with patients, as well as encourage the use of individualized techniques to improve diet and exercise and setting 
health behavior change goals with patients.  
 
Risk:  
- 
Patients: This research involves minimal risk for physical, psychological, social, and economic harm. The 
researchers understand that exploration of these topics and a persons’ individual struggle with their weight can 
be emotionally charged for many people, particularly considering the stigma placed on obesity in our society. 
The researchers have been trained in order to effectively facilitate conversations on this sensitive topic and will 
seek to minimize any emotional discomfort you may feel during the study. Additionally, any potential behavior 
changes related to diet or exercise will be assessed and approved by properly trained individuals including select 
research staff, the Primary Investigator, and health professionals. Patients will be encouraged to slowly increase 
their physical activity under the supervision of their PCP. While there is always the risk of injury from starting or 
increasing physical activity, the benefits usually outweigh potential harms. We will monitor patients for adverse 
events.   
 
- 
VA employees: This research involves minimal risk for physical, psychological, social, and economic harm. 
 
 
MEASUREMENTS 
 
Assessment will occur at the following time points: 
A. Baseline study visit: Baseline survey and basic physical measurements (weight, height, waist circumference) 
B. In-person follow-up study visits at 3, 6 and 12 months: Follow-up in-person questionnaire and basic physical 
measurements (weight, height, waist circumference) 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
C. Follow-up telephone calls (only patients in MTG intervention): Follow-up telephone questionnaire  
D. Chart review: This will occur periodically to assess MOVE! attendance, PACT teamlet visits (documentation of 
weight management-related conversations), and medical co-morbidities. Outcomes will be assessed through 
chart review up to 2 years after the baseline visit. 
 
Baseline Data: Prior to the intervention, patients will receive a Baseline survey. To evaluate recruitment for the 
intervention, baseline data including socio-demographic information, perceived health status, health literacy, perceived 
environmental factors, and depression will be collected.54–57 Co-morbidities will be determined through chart review of 
the electronic medical record. We will also collect health-related attitudes, beliefs, and baseline behaviors.  
 
Weight & Height: Study personnel will obtain patient weight measurements using a standardized protocol which 
includes; 1) weighing before eating without shoes or heavy garments using a digital scale that will be calibrated monthly; 
2) measuring height using the primary care clinic stadiometer and rounded to the nearest half inch, at each study time 
point (Baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months). 
 
Waist Circumference: Waist circumference will be measured using procedures adapted from National Health and 
Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)58. Study personnel will use measuring tape to the nearest 0.1cm at the high 
point of the iliac crest at minimal respiration. This will be measured at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. 
 
Feasibility: We will use process measures (from direct observation, to determine the feasibility of implementing the 
MTG intervention at the initial visit. Data on time to complete the MTG tool, number and types of goals made, number 
of patients reporting that their PACT teamlets  engaged in goal setting conversations, number of reminders completed 
by the PACT teamlets, time spent doing the intervention, the  impact of the intervention on workflow (physician and RN 
Care Manager report, qualitative interviews) will be collected. At 3 and 6 months into the study period, participating 
PACT teamlet staff will complete an attitudes survey based on one we have used previously pertaining to intervention 
implementation. We will also perform qualitative interviews with RN Care Managers and providers. We will use chart 
review to note the number of times patients in the telephone support arm actually receive telephone counseling. 
 
Acceptability: We will collect data on patient satisfaction with the intervention and the overall visit 59,60 using patient and 
provider surveys. We will conduct interviews with participating providers and RN Care Managers to obtain qualitative 
data on acceptability. 
 
Intermediate Outcomes: Our intermediate outcomes are based on the theory of planned behavior 31 where motivation 
and intention to perform a behavior, mediated by self- efficacy, predict behavior change. These constructs will be 
measured using previously used items that have been adapted for our survey measures by adding other elements of the 
Theory of Planned Behavior including behavioral beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. 
We will also assess goal attainment at 3, 6, 12 months. 
 
Behavioral Outcomes: We will assess diet and physical activity behaviors at baseline and again at 3, 6, and 12 months. 
Our main dietary outcomes will be servings of fruits and vegetables, fat intake, refined carbohydrates, and sweetened 
beverage intake via surveys. A subset of up to 20 participants will complete 24-hour dietary recalls, and this will allow us 
to assess total energy intake and energy density in this subgroup. Physical activity outcomes will be changes in duration 
and intensity. We will use chart review to evaluate attendance to TeleMOVE! or MOVE! (# of sessions) pre- and post-
baseline visit and 3, 6, and 12 months post- intervention. 
 
Treatment Fidelity: During patient surveys conducted after the patient sees the primary care provider, we determine 
whether patients recall reviewing goals and receiving obesity-related counseling from the provider. We will also 
audiotape up to 5 Baseline visits with each provider to evaluate the quality of counseling around patient goals and 
potential barriers to achieving them. Finally, we will do detailed chart reviews using a chart abstraction tool to monitor 
how often providers see patients and document goal-setting discussions during subsequent visits after the index visit. 
 
Data Storage/Security 
 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
- 
Research Activities: The following will all take place in private room at the Manhattan VA with the PI and/or 
research staff – filling in consent forms, using MTG tool, receiving weight management information, receiving 
weight management counseling, completing survey measures. 
 
- 
Storage of data: All written data will be kept in locked filing cabinets in a locked room only accessible by the PI 
and approved study personnel and all electronic data (including survey responses, audio files, and responses to 
online tool) on secure local VA servers and only accessible on VA password protected computers by the PI and 
study personnel. Original audio files will be removed from recorders. The data key link will be maintained as a 
password-protected Excel datasheet on a secure VA Harbor computer within a locked VA Harbor office by the PI, 
and destroyed upon completion of the final study dataset.  The data key link will be kept separate from all 
survey responses. Only study investigators will perform data entry, access either the surveys or datasets, or 
perform any analysis of the dataset. 
 
- 
Transcription: For transcription of audio files, files will be sent as encrypted files through the secure server to the 
VA-contracted transcription company, Transcription Outsourcing, LLC. Transcripts will be de-identified by leaving 
all identifiable information out of the transcript and using only a unique coded identifier generated by the 
Principal Investigator. This unique identifier will not use any identifying information (i.e. it will not be generated 
using the subject’s social security number, name, etc.) Recorded information will be transferred to Transcription 
Outsourcing via a HIPAA-compliant web portal using a VA computer. The transcripts will then be stored and 
analyzed on a VA secure server. This transcription procedure was approved by the IRB previously (MIRB 01333) 
under the consultation of the ISO and PO. 
 
- 
The MTG tool: The MTG tool uses a web-interface to ask health questions and collect the data in order to deliver 
tailored advice. This website will be hosted on either a hired private programmer’s server (approved research 
personnel) or an NYU server. In both cases, Data Use Agreements have been setup with both parties and the VA 
to protect ownership and use of collected coded data. Data will be regularly migrated from either server (private 
programmer or NYU) to the VA server via encrypted USB drive.  This data storage procedure was approved by the 
IRB previously (MIRB 01333) under the consultation of the ISO and PO. 
 
Other Quality Control Procedures: The study staff will meet biweekly for the duration of the study to review patient 
recruitment and data collection procedures to ensure standardization. Research assistants will send reminders to Health 
Coaches when it is time to call patients in the telephone support arm.  To monitor for and address unanticipated adverse 
events, there will be discussions during meetings with research staff, PI, mentors of PI, and providers/VA staff.  
 
 
DATA ANALYSIS 
 
Sample Size and Power Analysis: For weight loss outcomes, we will evaluate pre- and post-intervention in each arm 
separately and compare two arms. We base our sample size on within-person weight change at baseline and 12 months 
in each arm. Assuming  a mean weight change of at least -2.3kg (SD=5.3) in the MTG intervention arm and no weight 
change in the Enhanced Usual Care arm, based on a PC-based study of clinical support tools for lifestyle change and a 
systematic review of technology-assisted weight loss interventions in primary care.39 Having 60 patients in each arm, the 
power is 82% to detect this pre- and post-intervention difference in each arm (at the two sided 0.05 significant level).  
We will also explore weight loss differences between two arms. We do not know how much additional weight loss that 
telephone support will lead to compared with the enhanced usual care arm. However, if we have 60 patients in each 
arm and assume the same SD in the weight change, we will have 80% power to detect a 2.8 kg difference between two 
arms. Assuming 25% dropout rate, we will randomize 160 subjects to obtain 120 evaluable subjects. We conducted 
sample size calculation using PASS 2008 software. 
 
Statistics Analysis Plan: First, all the variables will be summarized using mean with standard deviation and median with 
interquartile range for continuous variables and frequency table for categorical variables, overall and by randomized 
arms, respectively. Mann-Whitney tests for continuous variables and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables will be 
used to check if baseline characteristics are balanced between two arms. Second, Mann-Whitney tests for continuous 
outcomes and Fisher exact tests for categorical outcomes will be used to compare outcome variables (including 

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
intermediate outcomes, behavioral outcomes, and weight outcomes) between two arms at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 
months, respectively. Wilcoxon rank tests for continuous outcomes and McNemar tests for binary outcomes will be used 
to compare them between follow-ups and baseline within each arm. Third, repeated measures modeling based on 
mixed models will be conducted to compare outcome variables between two arms, utilizing all the data at baseline and 
three follow-ups. Such modeling can adjust for baseline characteristics, take into account the correlation among 
repeated measures within subjects, and deal with missing data automatically assuming missing at random. Finally, we 
will conduct sensitivity analysis based on multiple imputation procedure to examine the impacts of missing data under 
some missing not at random assumptions.  
 
We will conduct several statistical analyses to describe Veterans participating in the study. Descriptive statistics, 
including numerical summaries, frequency tables and graphical displays, will be used to present baseline participant 
characteristics. Exploratory tests, such as chi-square tests and t-tests, will be used to investigate if baseline characteristics 
are balanced between two randomized arms. Analysis of missing data due to dropout or incomplete surveys will be 
investigated by inferring a relationship between baseline characteristics/risk factors and 0-1 indicator that defines 
whether or not a measurement is observed. This analysis will help to identify factors that are likely to be associated with 
dropout. Additionally, we will investigate whether the dropout rates are different between two arms. For instance, 
participants with higher levels of motivation may be more likely to be retained in the study. To deal with these missing, 
we will incorporate the multiple imputation procedure with the regression analyses to be discussed in the following, 
along with some sensitivity analysis.   
 
Qualitative Data: The audio recordings of provider interviews and patients visits will be transcribed by a VA-contracted 
transcription company (methods used in our previous IRB-approved study MIRB 01333). We will use detailed grounded 
theory-based procedures including open, axial, and selective coding.61 After multiple readings of the transcripts and 
making marginal notes with a second researcher, we will develop, test, and refine a systematic coding scheme of themes 
and sub-themes, and relationships thereof using NVIVO qualitative data analysis software accessed through VINCI to 
assist in data analysis and interpretation. Analysis will be facilitated through constant comparison techniques.  
 
 
EXPLORATORY AIM 
 
Exploratory Aim: To compare the intervention arm to a third study arm of non-enrolled PC patients matched for age, 
gender, and BMI (“Usual Care”).  
 
Analyzing the Third Arm: We will compare the two randomized study arms (Enhanced Usual Care and MTG intervention) 
arms with the third study arm of non-enrolled PC patients who are from the same cohort (seen by the same providers 
and eligible according to the same inclusion and exclusion criteria). Because the third study arm is not randomized, we 
do not expect the three arms are balanced at baseline characteristics and comparable. We will first identify important 
confounders (such as age, gender, BMI) and then use propensity score to adjust for these confounders when comparing 
the outcomes between three arms.  

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
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IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Study Personnel:  
 
Melanie Jay, MD, MS 
Grant Recipient/Principal Investigator 
Dr. Jay is an Assistant Professor at NYU School of Medicine and is a full-time staff physician if she gets this award. 
She currently devotes 80% of her time to research and leads the obesity counseling and prevention arm of the Research 
on Medical Education Outcomes Unit. She is also a primary care internist with clinical expertise in medical weight 
management. As a clinician, she started weight management programs at Bellevue Hospital and Gouverneur Healthcare 
Services. These multi-disciplinary clinics continue to provide care to underserved obese patients and feature English and 
Spanish support groups, medical intakes, individualized nutrition counseling, and nutrition education classes. Dr. Jay 
then left her full-time clinical practice after 4 years to pursue fellowship training (she received a Master’s of Science in 
Clinical Investigation through the NYU Fellowship in Medicine and Public Health Research in 2009) and to work towards 
becoming a independent investigator dedicated to treating and preventing obesity in primary care.   
Her previous clinical, administrative, and research experiences have prepared her well to complete the proposed 
research and training plan. She developed a multi-media intervention to improve food label comprehension and 
conducted a randomized controlled trial to study its impact on patients. She also surveyed 399 physicians from 3 
different specialties about their competencies and attitudes about obesity treatment. As a research fellow, she studied 
the impact of an obesity counseling training intervention for physicians on patient care using a wait-list/control design. 
These experiences made her realize the importance of developing and studying interventions to aid clinicians in treating 
and preventing obesity during the primary care visit. They have also laid the groundwork for her proposed research 
through the development of surveys to evaluate clinician attitudes and competencies, and patient exit interview 
evaluations of physicians’ obesity counseling.  Further, they gave her experience in project administration and 
management and have led to publications peer-reviewed journals. 
 
Craig Tenner, MD 
Co-Investigator 
Dr. Tenner is the Director of Health Promotion / Disease Prevention at the VA – New York Harbor Healthcare 
System and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He graduated NYU Medical School in 
1992 before completing a residency in Internal Medicine at NYU/Bellevue Hospital Center. Since leaving residency, he 
has been an Attending Physician with a busy clinical practice at the VA – New York Harbor Healthcare System in 
Manhattan and an active member of the NYU Medical Center faculty. His personal areas of research interest include 
Preventive Medicine and Medical Informatics. More specifically, his research focuses on identifying the barriers in 
obtaining preventive healthcare and ways to improve healthcare delivery. Currently, he is working on a number of 
projects related to population health, panel management and the Medical Home model of care. He has provided 
significant input to the protocol design, as well as created the CPRS note system needed for this intervention study. 
Yixin Fang, PhD 
Co-Investigator 
Dr. Fang has expertise and motivation necessary to successfully carry out the statistics analysis in the proposed 
work. Dr. Fang has a strong and broad background in clinical trials, multi-level analysis, survey analysis, observational 
studies, and many other biostatistical fields. As a PhD student at Columbia University, he received specific training and 
expertise in the fields of genetic epidemiology under the supervision of Professor Daniel Rabinowitz. As a postdoctoral 
research fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University, he conducted data analysis for many real data 
problems across different disciplines. Overall, Dr. Fang has a demonstrated record of successful and productive research 
in biostatistics, and his expertise and experience have prepared him to accomplish the proposed project.   

IRB APPROVAL - Continuing Review 01.11.2018