SWITCH Diets Study: Self-monitoring With Internet Technology to Choose Healthy Diets

University of South Carolina106 enrolled

Overview

The goal of the Self-monitoring With Internet Technology to Choose Healthy Diets (SWITCH) study is to examine a 12-week remotely delivered program designed to help adults adopt a healthy dietary lifestyle and lose weight in a diverse cohort of adults with overweight/obesity. The intervention uses a self-determination theory framework to provide a deeper understanding of the factors that influence dietary behavior within the context of tracking. This study incorporates autonomy-supportive strategies to encourage participants to feel more in control of their dietary choices and will provide information and resources to boost participant's competence in achieving their dietary goals. The intervention includes weekly learning modules to support healthy eating and weight loss and daily dietary tracking with visual feedback, all accessible within the SWITCH app.

The SWITCH study is a 12-week remotely delivered, randomized behavioral intervention. Participants will be randomized to one of two groups: 1) SWITCH tracking nutrients to decrease (n=50) or 2) SWITCH tracking nutrients to increase (n=50). Participants will attend a study orientation, complete all baseline measures, be randomized, and then attend a training session for their group. In addition, participants will complete assessment at baseline and 12 weeks. Intervention Design: Diet tracking. Participants in both groups will be asked to track all meals, snacks, and beverages via the SWITCH app and complete a weekly learning module. Both groups will receive the same intervention, but the targeted nutrient goals and the in-app display of daily intake will differ between groups. Participants will be given goals to either increase certain nutrients or to decrease certain nutrients. Diet related education to support healthy eating and weight loss will be provided each week within the SWITCH app. Each module includes some or all (as applicable) of the following components: A brief educational video discussing the week's topic, a video sharing ideas for applying the educational content into daily life, "meal swap" examples, a weekly goal or challenge and example recipes.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Interventions

learning modules (within app)BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral: Participants will have access to a weekly learning module created as Kahoot courses. Each module will include some or all (as applicable) of the following: * A brief educational video discussing the week's topic * A brief video sharing ideas for applying the educational content into daily life * PDF of "meal swap" examples * A weekly goal or challenge * Recipes

SWITCH app (self-regulation features) - ExperimentalBEHAVIORAL

Behavioral: Diet (track by in app database). App homepage displays dietary intake graph -circles -. Participants will see an empty circles for the goal nutrients at the start of each day, which will fill up as the participant tracks his/her food intake. If the participant consumes an excess beyond the nutrient intake goal, the circle will remain entirely full.

SWITCH app (self-regulation features) - ComparatorBEHAVIORAL

Diet (track by in app database). App homepage displays dietary intake graph -circles -. Participants allocated to the control group, tracking intake of nutrients to lower, will see a full circle at the start of each day which depletes, or empties, as the participant tracks his/her food intake. If the participant consumes an excess beyond the nutrient intake goal, the circle will remain entirely empty and the reported totals below the intake circles will display the current intake totals.

Eligibility

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

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 64 years. * BMI between 25 - 49.9 kg/m2 * Have 2 risk factors for T2DM in addition to having overweight or obesity (as defined by the NIDDK). * Own and use a smartphone with a data plan. * Must be willing and able to change dietary intake. * Be free of major health or psychiatric diseases, drug, or alcohol dependency. * Willing to sign informed consent. * Own a digital body weight scale, have regular access, or be willing to purchase one Exclusion Criteria: * Currently participating in a weight loss program * Has lost more than 10 pounds in the past 6 months. * Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or currently using medications that may impact blood glucose. * Pregnant (or have been pregnant in the last 6 months), anticipating becoming pregnant in the next 12 months, or currently breastfeeding. * Having an eating disorder.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Healthy Eating Index

Change in Healthy Eating Index from baseline to 12 weeks as assessed by dietary recalls.

Time frame: 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Body weight

Change in Body weight assessed by home scale - self-report data confirmed by photo