The TLC2 (Teaching Healthy Lifestyles to Caregivers 2)/CALM (Counseling Advice for Lifestyle Management) Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a 12-month telephone-supervised, home-based physical activity and dietary intervention, conducted in either a sequential or simultaneous fashion, on improving physical activity and dietary patterns in a high-stress population.

This study combines elements of two previous studies--Teaching Healthy Lifestyles for Caregivers (TLC2) and Counseling Advice for Lifestyle Management (CALM)--to compare exercise and diet interventions in caregivers and non-caregivers. Two hundred and forty healthy men and women ages 50 and older, half caregivers and half non-caregivers, will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions:

* a 12-month physical activity intervention and a 12-month dietary counseling intervention delivered simultaneously;
* a 12-month counseling intervention first focusing on physical activity followed by the addition of dietary counseling;
* a 12-month counseling intervention first focusing on dietary counseling followed by the addition of physical activity counseling; or
* a 12-month attention-control condition focusing on stress-management skills training.

Data on physical activity participation, saturated fat consumption, and related quality of life indicators (e.g., improved physical functioning, fitness, sleep, and psychological well-being) will be collected at baseline, 4 months, 8 months, and 12 months post-test. The primary hypotheses are:

* participants assigned to the physical activity and dietary counseling conditions will show greater improvements in physical activity participation and saturated fat consumption at 12 months compared to the attention-control condition; and
* participants in the sequentially-delivered counseling interventions will show greater improvements in physical activity and saturated fat consumption compared to participants in the simultaneously-delivered interventions.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Men and women ages 50 and older
* Current family caregiver
* Currently experiencing significant psychological stress
* Free of any medical condition that would limit participation in independent exercise
* Not currently engaged in a regular pattern of physical conditioning
* Current dietary pattern includes suboptimal total fat, saturated fat and vegetable and fruit consumption
* Free of chronic clinical psychopathology
* Stable on current medications
* Planning to remain in the geographic area throughout the duration of the trial
* Able to read and speak English sufficiently to understand protocol materials
* Able to use the telephone unaided
* Willing to accept random assignment to any study condition

Exclusion Criteria:

* Under the age of 50
* Currently under treatment for an acute, serious medical condition (e.g. cancer, heart disease, stroke)
* Physically active on a regular basis (i.e. performing more than 60 minutes per week of aerobic physical activity of at least a moderate intensity)
* Dietary patterns meet current recommendations for saturated fat and vegetable and fruit consumption
* Unstable and/or uncontrolled on medications for chronic medical conditions
* Unable or unwilling to use a telephone unaided
* Unwilling to accept random assignment to study condition