This study tested the effectiveness of the Group Lifestyle Balance™ (GLB) program adapted specifically for people with impaired mobility using standard behavioral approaches for weight loss. The overarching aim of this study was to promote health and reduce chronic disease risk among people with mobility impairment by building an evidence base for weight loss. The central hypothesis was that participants randomized to the intervention arm of the adapted GLB would show significant improvements on primary outcomes of weight and PA compared to a 6-month wait-list control group at 3 and 6 months, and show improvements on several secondary health outcomes.
The following are the specific study aims and hypotheses: Aim 1: To create an appropriate and usable adaptation of the GLB program for people with mobility impairment. Hypothesis 1.1: Advisory board participants will identify key adaptations to make the GLB materials appropriate and usable for individuals with impaired mobility. Aim 2: To establish whether the adapted GLB program for people with mobility impairment is a feasible intervention. Hypothesis 2.1: Intervention participants will rate the program satisfactorily and attend at least 2/3rd of the weekly group-based meetings and monthly individualized phone calls. Lifestyle coaches will also rate the adapted program satisfactorily. Aim 3: To determine if the GLB intervention adapted for those with mobility impairment is effective as determined by significant improvement in the primary and secondary outcomes in the intervention group compared to the wait-list control group at 3 and 6 months from baseline. Hypothesis 3.1: The intervention group will demonstrate significantly greater improvements in our primary outcomes (weight and PA) than the wait list control group at 3 and at 6 months and will show significant improvements in secondary outcomes at 6 months. Hypothesis 3.2: Both groups combined will demonstrate significantly greater improvements in the primary outcomes (weight and PA) after 3, 6 and 12 months of intervention and secondary outcomes after 6 and 12 months of intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
67
The 12-month Group Lifestyle Balance program, Adapted for individuals with Impaired Mobility (GLB-AIM) promotes 5% - 7% weight loss by reducing calories and increasing energy expenditure to 150 minutes of weekly activity. The 23 GLB-AIM sessions were delivered through monthly in-person and teleconference calls. Participants were encouraged to self-monitor daily caloric/fat intake and physical activity using materials to accurately measure daily calories and exercise, which included a food scale, measuring cups and spoons and a loaned Garmin vívofit® activity tracker and heart rate monitor. Participants shared their logs with lifestyle coaches over the 13 core sessions and lifestyle coaches provided positive reinforcement, feedback, and problem solving techniques as needed.
weight change
change in weight collected on 4 times over the year. Weight was measured using a Seca accessible scale (#676); wheelchair users were weighed in their chair on the scale, then transferred to a PT mat table from their chair scale to have their chair weighted separately and body weight was calculated as wheelchair weight subtracted from total weight.
Time frame: 12 months
Session Attendance
Session attendance recorded for each of the 23 sessions and reported as average attendance at each session
Time frame: 12 months
self-monitoring
self-monitoring adherence for daily food intake
Time frame: over 13 core weeks
physical activity
self reported physical activity reported on the brief International Physical Activity Questionaire as minutes per week spent in moderate-intensity activity, vigorous-intensity activity, moderate and vigorous activity combined, and minutes per week walking/wheeling
Time frame: baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months
waist circumference
waist circumference measured while participants laid supine on a PT mat table at the level of the umbilicus, using a fabric measuring tape.
Time frame: baseline, 6, and 12 months
hemoglobin A1c
hemoglobin A1c was collected by blood draw and sent to the lab for analysis
Time frame: baseline, 6, and 12 months
blood pressure
resting blood pressure after sitting quietly for 10 minutes using an Omron 3 Series wrist worm blood pressure cuff
Time frame: baseline, 6, and 12 months
cholesterol
total cholesterol was collected by blood draw during the non-fasting state and sent to the lab for analysis
Time frame: baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months
self-efficacy
self-efficacy for health promoting behaviors: 27-items of the Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices scale which assesses participants perceived ability to engage in health promoting activities across 4 domains (Nutrition, Exercise, Health Practices, Psychological Well Being, plus a total self-efficacy score)
Time frame: baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.