Charge: A Text Messaging-based Weight Loss Intervention

Duke University534 enrolled

Overview

This study evaluates different versions of a text messaging-based app for weight loss. This study will place participants to 1 of 32 experimental conditions that reflect different texting components and levels. Participants will be randomized to a condition. The investigators will recruit 448 adults into a 6-month weight loss program, with an additional follow-up 6-months after the intervention ends.

Standalone text messaging-based weight loss treatments are scalable and can achieve population reach. However, these interventions are also modular; they can be delivered independently to maximize cost-effectiveness or combined with other approaches (e.g. provider counseling) to maximize outcomes. This study is a 12-month experimental trial among 448 adults with obesity. All participants will receive a core 6-month weight loss texting intervention that includes tailored behavior change goals, interactive self-monitoring, automated feedback, and skills training. Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 32 different experimental conditions.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

534

Conditions

Weight Loss Obesity

Interventions

ChargeBEHAVIORAL

Text messaging-based study to determine effect of different components on weight loss.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * males and females aged 18-65 years * participants have English language proficiency * participants have a BMI between 25-40 kg/m2 * Participants will own a smartphone * Participants will be willing to receive multiple text messages daily. Exclusion Criteria: * prior or planned bariatric surgery * psychiatric hospitalization in past 12 months * pregnancy, nursing, or planned pregnancy * history of a cardiovascular event * history of an eating disorder * history of a condition (e.g., end stage renal disease, cancer, schizophrenia) or use of medications (e.g., lithium, steroids, anti-psychotics) that would affect weight measurement, for which weight loss is contraindicated, or might promote weight change * current participation in a weight loss trial and/or recent weight loss \> 10% * investigator discretion for safety reasons

Locations (1)

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Average Weight Change

Mean change in weight in kg (6 months post-randomization- baseline weight)

Time frame: baseline, 6 months

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Diet

To experimentally determine the effects of text messaging components and levels on change in dietary intake using The Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants - Shortened version (REAP-S). The range of score is 13 to 39, where a higher score indicates more healthy dietary intake.

Time frame: baseline, 6 months

Average Change in Physical Activity

To experimentally determine the effects of text messaging components and levels on change in weekly minutes of physical activity based on the WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2 (GPAC 2). The range of scores is 0 minutes/week to 10,080 minutes/week (maximum number of minutes in a week).

Time frame: baseline, 6 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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