Low Intensity Weight Loss for Young Adults
Condition: Obesity
MeSH terms: Weight Loss
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This is a 3-arm randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of three novel motivational
      approaches to weight loss with 18-25 year olds. Participants will be 18-25 year olds with a
      BMI of 25-45 kg/m2, randomized to: 1) Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL), 2) BWL + Autonomous
      Motivation (BWL+Aut) or 3) BWL + Extrinsic Motivation (BWL+Ext). All arms will receive a
      6-month behavioral weight loss intervention, followed by a 6-month no-treatment follow up
      period.
    

Detailed description: 
      A 3-arm randomized controlled trial will be conducted, the goal of which is to determine
      which group represents the most viable approach to behavioral weight loss treatment with
      18-25 year olds. A total of 381 participants,18-25 years of age, with a BMI between 25 and 45
      kg/m2 will be randomized to one of three groups: 1) Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL), 2) BWL +
      Autonomous Motivation (BWL+Aut) or 3) BWL + Extrinsic Motivation (BWL+Ext). All arms will
      receive a 24-week behavioral weight loss intervention, including personalized dietary,
      physical activity, and weight loss prescriptions. In addition, all arms will be followed for
      a 6 month no treatment follow-up period. Assessments of weight and secondary outcomes will
      occur in 0, 3, 6 and 12 months. The investigators will compare treatment effects, across all
      3 arms at 6 months, and compare arms on weight loss maintenance at12 months. The
      investigators will also examine mediators of treatment outcomes consistent with the
      investigators theoretical framework.
    

Intervention name(s): Behavioral Weight Loss (BWL); BWL + Autonomous Motivation; BWL + Extrinsic Motivation
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The intervention represents an adapted version of gold-standard evidence based adult behavioral weight loss that has been tailored specifically to meet the needs of 18-25 year olds. The program includes personalized dietary and physical activity prescriptions, training in behavioral strategies, weekly lesson content, and reporting of key behaviors and personalized feedback and coaching.; The intervention represents an adapted version of gold-standard evidence based adult behavioral weight loss that has been tailored specifically to meet the needs of 18-25 year olds. The program includes personalized dietary and physical activity prescriptions, training in behavioral strategies, weekly lesson content, and reporting of key behaviors and personalized feedback and coaching. Participants in this arm will receive coaching that places an increased emphasis on their values and personal choices, and also have the option to attend several experiential group sessions that will help those interested to apply the material and skills they are being taught (e.g., cooking demonstration, circuit training class).; The intervention represents an adapted version of gold-standard evidence based adult behavioral weight loss that has been tailored specifically to meet the needs of 18-25 year olds. The program includes personalized dietary and physical activity prescriptions, training in behavioral strategies, weekly lesson content, and reporting of key behaviors and personalized feedback and coaching. Participants in this arm will have the opportunity to receive small monetary incentives in weeks 2-24 for tracking weight and calorie intake, and will be eligible for a raffle based on weight loss.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Obesity; Weight Loss; Young Adults