Dissemination of the Choisir de Maigrir? Program

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The Québec government launched in October 2006 an action plan (PAG) to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among young people and adults by 2012. One of the five priorities of the PAG is to improve health services for individuals with weight-related issues. The development and implementation of sustainable weight-control strategies however remains a challenge, since weight loss is often regained by the majority of individuals over time. Health-At-Every-Size (HAES) interventions, which are mainly focusing on health rather that weight, have been proposed as an interesting alternative for individuals, mainly women, who are struggling with weight-related issues. Based on the HAES, Choisir de maigrir? (CdM?) program has been clearly identified by the PAG as one of the actions for improving health services and Quebec's government has already started a massive dissemination of the CdM? program in CSSS of Québec. In that context, it becomes imperative to rapidly assess the effectiveness and readiness of the program for a broad dissemination. The present research proposal falls directly within the scope of the PAG recommendation and the investigators general objective is to develop a population-based understanding of the effectiveness of the CdM? program in Quebec's CSSS by documenting the effects of the program on women's health in a natural setting.

Detailed Description
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The impact of CdM? will be assessed with each CSSS at three time points: at baseline (T=1), at the end of the intervention period (T=2), and at 1-y post-intervention (T=3). While data collection instructions and assessment materials will be provided by the research team, administration of the CdM? program will be totally under the responsibility of each CSSS, so that the program will occur outside of the research team control. Validated questionnaires will be used to assess nutritional profile, physical activity level, and psychosocial variables among the participants (N=168). Weight, height and waist circumference will also be measured for each participant. In order to ensure that our results are not due to the effect of time, women on a waiting list for CdM? program, will be recruited (N=84) for the short-term effect. All these data will be treated using sophisticated analyses strategies.

Official Title
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Dissemination of the Choisir de Maigrir? Program in Health and Social Service Centers in Québec: Evaluation of Its Implementation and Impact on Lifestyle Habits and Well-being

Conditions
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Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: CdM? program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Women 18 years old and over Seeking help for weight-related problems Exclusion Criteria: Considering the natural setting of the present study and the fact that the program is occurring outside of the applicants' control, no stringent exclusion criteria will be determined.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention group (CdM?)<br>This group will be composed of women that are seeking help for weight-related problems that have been referred to the CdM? program. | Behavioral: CdM? program<br>* The program is conducted in small groups of 12 to 15 women for 14 weekly sessions (13 3h-evening sessions and 1 intensive-day session of 6 hours). Two health professionals (a registered dietician and a social worker or psychologist) lead the group. Sessions include lectures, guided self-examination and observations, group discussions, and practical exercises. Different topics are discussed during sessions such as enjoyment of physical activity and healthy nutrition, setting realistic objectives with regard to weight loss, and acceptation of their own and others' body image. A weekly food diary and group discussions are used to facilitate the recognition of internal cues of hunger and satiety and the identification of external influences on eating behaviors and food intake.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control group<br>This group will be composed of women that are seeking help for weight-related problems but that are actually on the waiting list for participating to the CdM? program. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Food habits | To evaluate the impact of the CdM? program on food habits for all women will be conducted at three time points: at baseline (T=1), at the end of the intervention period (T=2), and at 1-y post-intervention (T=3). | Up to one year post-intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Eating behaviors | To evaluate the impact of the CdM? program on eating behaviors. | Up to one year post-intervention | 
| Physical activity | To evaluate the impact of the CdM? program on physical activity. | Up to one year post-intervention | 
| Well-being | To evaluate the impact of the CdM? program on well-being. | Up to one year post-intervention | 
| Weight | To evaluate the impact of the CdM? program on weight. | Up to one year post-intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Health-At-Every-Size intervention