mDiet: A Text Message Intervention for Weight Loss
Condition: Overweight; Weight Loss
MeSH terms: Overweight; Body Weight; Weight Loss
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The purpose of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded randomized controlled study is to
      develop and evaluate a text message (SMS) based weight loss intervention to 309 overweight or
      moderately obese English and Spanish speaking adults ages 21 - 60. The investigators propose
      that participants randomized to the intervention arms will lose significantly more weight
      than those participants randomized to the control group.
    

Detailed description: 
      The SMS based intervention will be developed through formative research including focus
      groups, cognitive interviews, and a pilot test of a Spanish version of mDIET. The focus
      groups will be conducted with both English and Spanish speaking men and women to 1) learn
      more about the content areas to be addressed in the intervention including physical activity
      and sedentary behaviors to expand on previous research; 2) learn more about assessing
      equivalence and compatibility in intervention messages in English and Spanish; 3) identify
      the most culturally and linguistically appropriate messages; 4) assess text message use; 5)
      identify factors that influence food and physical activity decisions; and 6) identify health
      messages that Latinos see as most understandable, credible, and persuasive, cognitive
      interviews, and a pilot test of a Spanish version of mDIET. The cognitive interviews will be
      conducted in Spanish and will help inform translation of study materials (text messages and
      measures) from English to Spanish. An 8-week pilot test of the Latino (Spanish language)
      mDIET will be conducted to ensure that the text messages and SMS system works as expected in
      terms of usability and acceptability.

      The randomized controlled trial will be a 12-month intervention with 309 study participants.
      Participants will be randomized to one of three groups: SMS-only, SMS plus phone counseling,
      and a control group (Details of the study arms are discussed in another section). The goals
      of the intervention groups (SMS-only and SMS plus phone counseling) include: 5% weight loss,
      500 k/cal per day deficit through reduced caloric intake and increased energy expenditure,
      12,00 steps through the use of a pedometer, and a reduction in sedentary behaviors.
      Participants will receive daily text messages, self-monitoring tools, and brief health
      promotion printed or wed materials on physical activity, nutrition, or other weight loss
      related topics. Participants will complete physiological and survey measures at baseline, 6
      months, and 12 months to assess weight (BMI), physical activity and diet behaviors,
      psychosocial behaviors, environmental factors, and exposure and satisfaction with the
      program.
    

Intervention name(s): mDiet
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The goals of the intervention groups (SMS-only and SMS plus phone counseling) include: 5% weight loss, 500 k/cal per day deficit through reduced caloric intake and increased energy expenditure, 12,00 steps through the use of a pedometer, and a reduction in sedentary behaviors. Participants will receive daily "pushed" and "pulled" text messages, self-monitoring tools, and brief health promotion printed or wed materials on physical activity, nutrition, or other weight loss related topics.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Obesity; overweight; weight loss; weight maintenance; SMS; technology; cell phone; physical activity; nutrition