The WEIGH Study: Weighing to Improve and Gain Health

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Overweight and Obesity

In brief

The purpose of this research project is to assess the efficacy of a weight loss intervention for chronic disease prevention that focuses on daily self-weighing as the primary self-monitoring strategy compared to a delayed-intervention control group. While daily self-weighing has been shown to be effective for weight loss in observational research, there is limited experimental evidence testing this association and most is derived from intensive interventions that may overshadow the effects of self-weighing. To mitigate this, the investigators will examine whether daily self-weighing is effective for weight loss under self-directed conditions using a randomized-controlled design. The investigators will conduct a 6-month randomized trial in 88 overweight and obese adults to compare a daily self-weighing intervention to a delayed-intervention control group. Changes in weight, diet and physical activity, and psychosocial measures will be examined. Main Study Hypothesis: Participants in the group randomized to receive the daily self-weighing intervention will have greater percent weight loss at 6 months compared to those in the delayed control group. Secondary Hypothesis: Participants in the group receiving the daily self-weighing intervention will report greater engagement in diet and physical activity behaviors that produce caloric deficits, greater self-efficacy and motivation, and no differences in body satisfaction, disordered eating, or depressive symptoms compared to those in the control group.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01369004

Run by

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

People needed

91

Starts

2011-02-01

Expected to finish

2011-11-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-04-25

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Be between the ages of 18-60 years old
• Have a BMI between 25-40 kg/m\^2 and weigh no more than 310 lbs.
• Live in the Chapel Hill/Durham/Raleigh, NC area
• Be able to attend data collection visits at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months at the UNC Weight Research Program Center
• Have access to the Internet and a computer for daily tracking of weight
• Be willing to be randomized to either group

You may not qualify if…

• History of psychiatric diseases (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, hospitalization for depression within the past year), drug or alcohol dependency, or uncontrolled thyroid conditions
• History of major health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and past incidence of stroke, cancer diagnosis (non-skin) within the past 5 years
• No physician consent for participation if currently on blood pressure medications, have issues with dizziness, or have bone or joint issues.
• Currently pregnant, anticipating on becoming pregnant in the next 9 months, or currently breastfeeding
• History of eating disorder or currently seeking treatment for an eating disorder.
• Current participation in a structured weight loss program,or taking weight loss medications
• Current participation in a weight control study within the past 6 months
• Current participation in another research study that might affect study hypotheses
• Have lost 5% of their body weight and kept it off within the past 6 months
• History of surgery for weight loss
• Plans to be out of the area for an extensive amount of time without Internet access or move out of the area within the next 9 months

Where it is running

• UNC Weight Research Program — Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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