The Social Pounds Off Digitally (Social POD) Study

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

57 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-01-31

Study Completion Date

2015-05-31

Brief Summary

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Smartphones have the capability to monitor health-related behaviors (exercise, diet, etc.) and provide social support which has the potential to play a powerful role in health promotion. The objective of this study is to refine and pilot test the Social POD app for personalized health monitoring and interaction founded on a combination of social networks, recommender systems, motivational research, and health behavior theory. The aim of our proposed project is to conduct a 3-month pilot RCT among overweight and obese adults (N=150) comparing a theory-based podcast (TBP) plus self-monitoring using a commercially-available calorie and weight tracking app (current most popular diet self-monitoring method) versus TBP plus self-monitoring and social support/incentive points for participating with the Social POD app (TBP+Social POD).

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Detailed Description

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Objectives and Significance. Smartphones have the capability to monitor health-related behaviors (exercise, diet, etc.) and provide social support which has the potential to play a powerful role in health promotion. The objective of this study is to refine and pilot test the Social POD app for personalized health monitoring and interaction founded on a combination of social networks, recommender systems, motivational research, and health behavior theory. Currently, we are recruiting for usability testing among obese and overweight (BMI \>25 kg/m2) adults (n=20) with our basic Social POD app. Our proposed project, which seeks to supplement our current line of research investigating mHealth interventions for overweight and obese adults, has two aims:

Aim 1: Refine our intelligent social agent mobile app (Social POD) based on results from our usability testing and develop new components (i.e., incentive system) for use in a 3-month randomized controlled pilot trial (RCT).

Aim 2: Conduct a 3-month pilot RCT among overweight and obese adults (N=150) comparing a theory-based podcast (TBP) plus self-monitoring using a commercially-available calorie and weight tracking app (current most popular diet self-monitoring method)9 versus TBP plus self-monitoring and social support/incentive points for participating with the Social POD app (TBP+Social POD).

Once the final intervention is developed through Aim 1 including the incentive system, we will recruit 150 overweight adult Android smartphone owners (BMI 25-49.9 kg/m2; age 18-65; \>30% AA) to participate in a 3-month pilot of our enhanced intervention. Detecting differences in weight among the two groups is our primary research goal.

Conditions

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Obesity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Theory-based podcast

Receive a 3-month weight loss intervention delivered via theory-based podcast (TBP) plus self-monitoring using a commercially-available calorie and weight tracking app (current most popular diet self-monitoring method).

Intervention: podcast + mobile diet app

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Podcast + mobile diet app

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Use of a mobile app to track behaviors related to weight loss as well as receive study-related weight loss information via podcast.

Theory-based podcast + Social POD

Receive a 3-month weight loss intervention delivered via Theory-based Podcast (TBP) plus self-monitoring and social support/incentive points for participating with the Social POD app (TBP+Social POD).

Intervention: podcast + theory-based mobile diet app

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Podcast + theory-based mobile diet app

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Use of a theory-based mobile app to track behaviors related to weight loss as well as receive study-related weight loss information via podcast.

Interventions

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Podcast + mobile diet app

Use of a mobile app to track behaviors related to weight loss as well as receive study-related weight loss information via podcast.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Podcast + theory-based mobile diet app

Use of a theory-based mobile app to track behaviors related to weight loss as well as receive study-related weight loss information via podcast.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Overweight or obese (Body Mass Index between 25 and 49.9 kg/m2)
* Own and Android phone or tablet

Exclusion Criteria

* are currently pregnant
* are younger than 18 or older than 65 years of age
* are unable to attend 3 meetings at the University of South Carolina
* don't have access to the Internet and a computer
* don't have access to a scale for self-monitoring weight
* aren't willing to be randomized to one of the two groups
* have a psychiatric disease, drug or alcohol dependency, or uncontrolled thyroid condition
* have a major health condition, such as heart conditions, diabetes, and past incidence of stroke
* have an eating disorder
* currently participating in a weight loss program or taking weight loss medications

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes