An Individualized Internet-Based Health Behavior Program or a Standard Internet-Based Health Behavior Program in Preventing Cancer and Improving Physical Activity and Nutrition in Participants Who Are Physically Inactive With a Higher Body Mass Index

RATIONALE: An internet-based health behavior program that provides information about physical activity, fitness, and nutrition may help participants become healthier and reduce the risk of developing cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying an individualized internet-based health behavior program to see how well it works compared to a standard internet-based health behavior program in preventing cancer and improving physical activity, fitness, and nutrition in participants who are physically inactive with a higher body mass index.

OBJECTIVES:

* Compare the efficacy of an internet-based mastery-model health behavior educational intervention vs internet-based standard care health behavior educational intervention in improving physical activity and nutrition in sedentary participants with a higher body mass index.
* Compare the efficacy of these interventions in reducing cancer risk, in these participants.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, controlled, multicenter study. Participants are stratified according to participating site, age (55 years and over vs under 55 years), gender, ethnic group, and aerobic capacity (≤ 6 metabolic equivalent tasks \[METS\] vs \> 6 METS). Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 intervention arms.

* Arm I (mastery model health behavior educational intervention): Participants log on to the Guide to Health Project (GTH) website weekly and are provided access over a 24-month period to healthy lifestyle coaching modules and a completely individualized fitness program organized according to a mastery-model health behavior educational intervention. The mastery-model intervention comprises a 6-month behavioral initiation phase that includes an orientation and refinement of goals and expectations for each content area; a 6-month behavioral establishment phase comprising healthy lifestyle coaching modules focusing on physical activity and nutrition at least once a week; and a 6-month behavioral maintenance phase comprising a taper in the frequency of coaching sessions to once a month.
* Arm II (standard care health behavior educational intervention): Participants log on to the GTH website weekly and are provided access over a 24-month period to information regarding a healthy lifestyle focusing on physical activity and nutrition organized according to a standard care health behavior educational intervention.

In both arms, participants verify step-counts measured by a pedometer and complete the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire online at 10 and 18 months.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 300 participants (150 per arm) will be accrued for this study within 1 year.

Eligibility Criteria:
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Sedentary participant

  * Not currently participating in a regular exercise program (i.e., \< 30 minutes/day of moderate physical activity, 5 days a week)
* Body Mass Index 23-33.5
* Patiwnts that meet any of the following criteria are excluded:

  * High blood pressure (BP) (i.e., systolic BP ≥ 140 mm Hg OR diastolic BP ≥ 90 mm Hg) OR BP controlled with medications other than beta-blockers
  * Known high cholesterol (i.e., \> 200 mg/dL)
  * Known low high-density lipoprotein level (i.e., \< 40 mg/dL)
  * Use of antihyperlipidemic medications
  * Existing disease (i.e., heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and kidney or liver problems)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 to 63

Performance status

* Not specified

Life expectancy

* Not specified

Hematopoietic

* Not specified

Hepatic

* No known liver disease

Renal

* No known kidney disease

Cardiovascular

* See Disease Characteristics
* No known cardiovascular disease
* Blood pressure ≤ 140/90 mm Hg

Pulmonary

* No known pulmonary disease

Other

* Not pregnant
* No known diabetes
* No known HIV positivity
* No cancer within the past 5 years
* No condition (e.g., orthopedic injuries or musculoskeletal disabilities) that would restrict physical activity or the ability to take a 1-mile walk test
* No other known life-threatening illness or condition
* Internet user

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* Not specified

Chemotherapy

* Not specified

Endocrine therapy

* Not specified

Radiotherapy

* Not specified

Surgery

* No prior organ transplantation

Other

* No concurrent beta-blockers