Brief Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment vs. Weight Watchers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Weight Watchers, brief behavioral treatment, and a combination treatment. We hypothesize that a combination treatment will achieve greater weight losses than Weight Watchers alone.

Detailed Description
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Weight Watchers is a popular nonmedical commercial weight loss program. Recent studies suggest that people enrolled in Weight Watchers lose approximately 3-5 kg in 6 months of treatment. These outcomes are substantially lower than average weight losses achieved in 6 months if university/hospital-based standard behavioral treatment (approximately 10 kg). However, standard behavioral weight loss programs are expensive and have limited accessibility to most people seeking weight loss. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to investigate whether enhancing Weight Watchers by adding an 8-week group-based behavioral weight loss program prior to participation in Weight Watchers will improve weight loss outcomes at 6 months. Comparison: 6 months of Weight Watchers vs. combination treatment (2 months of standard behavioral weight loss treatment followed by 4 months of Weight Watchers) vs. 2 months of standard behavioral treatment.

Official Title
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Comparison of a Brief Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention With the Weight Watchers Program

Conditions
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Obesity, Overweight

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Weight Watchers
* Behavioral: brief behavioral weight loss treatment
* Behavioral: brief behavioral + Weight Watchers combined treatment


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 21-65 years BMI 27-45 kg/m2 Able to sign informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Women who are pregnant, nursing, less than 6 months postpartum, or plan to become pregnant during course of study Individuals who report a medical condition that would affect the safety and/or efficacy of a weight management program involving dietary change and physical activity (e.g., heart disease, cancer) Individuals with major psychiatric illness that would interfere with protocol adherence Individuals who are currently participating in a weight loss program or taking weight loss medication or lost >=5% of body weight during 6 months prior to screening Recent (within the past 12 months) participation in Weight Watchers

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 65 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: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: Weight Watchers|nan|
|Behavioral: brief behavioral weight loss treatment|nan|
|Behavioral: brief behavioral + Weight Watchers combined treatment|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight Loss |  |  | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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behavioral weight loss treatment, brief behavioral treatment, commercial weight loss programs, Weight Watchers