The purpose of this study is to test a new weight loss intervention designed for cancer survivors who have heart disease or cardiometabolic conditions. The investigators want to determine whether this study is feasible and acceptable to participants. The investigators also want to learn more about how cancer survivors take their medications.
The purpose of this study is to test a new weight loss intervention designed for cancer survivors. The investigators want to determine whether this approach to weight loss is feasible and acceptable to cancer survivors. All participants in the study will receive free behavioral telephone-based weight loss management in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University. Participants must be willing and able to use their smartphone with Bluetooth and their WiFi to download Apps, set up a Fitbit account and a Google account if not already set up. Participants will use their smartphone to record food intake \& physical activity over an 8 week weight loss program. This program includes recruitment of a "Buddy" that the participant will choose to support you during the 8 week study. All participants will be asked to download a study application to use to record dietary intake each day during a "Run-In Week.". Eligible participants will then receive an 8-week weight loss program, including individual weekly sessions with health coaches. The investigators will also ask participants to complete both a baseline and follow-up session with study staff. If permitted by current university policies, these sessions will be held at the offices on Northwestern University's Chicago campus. Otherwise, these sessions will be conducted remotely via Zoom videoconference. If this is the case, as a privacy safeguard, the waiting room feature will be applied so that study staff can control who is admitted into the meeting. We expect that the participants will be in this research study for about 10 weeks. The primary risk of participation is muscle soreness or injury from increased physical activity, as well as feelings of hunger from making changes to diet. The main benefit is that a participant may experience positive changes to their health and mood based on the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
26
All participants will receive a weight loss intervention that includes 8 coaching sessions guided by a workbook they will at their baseline visit. During these sessions, they will meet with a health coach individually for up to 10-15 minutes via telephone or video conference to learn and discuss weight loss strategies. Health coaches will provide feedback and instruction (by phone or email) based on progress and challenges encountered during the intervention. Participants will receive a weight management app custom-built for the research study. The app will display participants' dietary intake, physical activity, and weight data and goals on the smartphone, and participants will use the app to log dietary intake, physical activity, and weight daily.
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Primary Outcome - Weight - Aria Scale
Weight will be measured in the lab at baseline and then the change in weight at the follow-up. Baseline measurements occur one week before the study and follow up measurements occur at week 8 of the study. Measurements will be taken without shoes, wearing light clothing on a calibrated beam balance scale called the Aria Scale. For melanoma patients only, skin self-examination frequency will also be assessed.
Time frame: Baseline (week one) & Follow Up (week 8)
Additional Physiologic Outcomes
Height will also be measured using a stadiometer.
Time frame: Baseline (week one) & Follow Up (week 8)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.