Study of Two Complementary and Alternative Medical Treatments for Maintenance of Weight Loss

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this study is to pilot test in a group of overweight-obese individuals the feasibility and acceptability and indications of efficacy of two CAM treatments, qigong, and acupressure-TAT, for improving long term maintenance of weight loss.

Detailed Description
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The prevalence of obesity is at epidemic proportions, 60% of US adults are overweight or obese. Obesity contributes to chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease [CVD], hypertension, cancer, and osteoarthritis) and to escalating health care costs. Weight loss can have a substantial impact on reducing these conditions. Substantial efforts have been made in developing effective short-term weight loss programs using behavioral treatments. However, long-term maintenance of weight loss continues to be problematic - many individuals regain the weight lost within a year. Innovative intervention options are critically needed to help people successfully maintain weight loss and to fight the obesity epidemic. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches-mind-body, energy healing, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches may hold great promise for helping improve the maintenance of weight loss.

Official Title
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Pilot of Two CAM Treatments for Maintenance of Weight Loss

Conditions
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Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: qigong
* Behavioral: acupressure-TAT


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: BMI 25-35 kg/m 2 Reside in Portland metropolitan area Willing to complete the 12-week weight loss program Willing to accept random assignment to one of the three maintenance treatment conditions Willing to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Medical conditions or treatments that would be contraindicated using a diet & exercise weight loss treatment Cancer Significant GI disease inappropriate for diet and physical activity intervention Diabetes dependent on insulin or oral hypoglycemic medications Psychiatric hospitalization in past 2 years Conditions that require limitation of physical activity Congestive Heart Failure Cardiovascular Disease (stroke, MI, CABG, ASCVD) Taking weight loss medications currently or within past 6 months Previous history of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) weight loss treatment Current acupressure, or Qi Gong, or acupuncture Reported consumption of more than 21 alcoholic drinks per week Planning to leave the area prior to the end of the program Body weight change > 10 pounds in the 6 months prior to Screening visit one Pregnant, breast feeding, or planning pregnancy prior to the end of participation Current participation in another clinical trial Investigator discretion for safety or adherence reasons Household member of another CAM WT participant Unavailable for group sessions

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

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: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: qigong|nan|
|Behavioral: acupressure-TAT|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Overweight, Weight loss maintenance, CAM therapy, Qigong, Acupressure, Traditional Chinese Medicine