FoodRx for Obesity Treatment

NCT ID: NCT05635019

Last Updated: 2025-12-17

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

View full results

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

105 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-12-01

Study Completion Date

2024-07-01

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This study is a 3-group, parallel design, randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 105 adults with obesity and food insecurity that will compare BWL-Alone (including standard-of-care referral and connection with community food resources; n=35) to BWL plus food supplementation with either food vouchers (BWL+VOUCHER; n=35) or home-delivered, medically tailored groceries consistent with BWL recommendations (BWL+HOME; n=35). All groups will have BWL treatment provided for 24 weeks per clinical guidelines. Food vouchers and HOME will be provided for 24 weeks of treatment. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and weeks 12 and 24.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Obesity Food Insecurity

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Randomized clinical trial
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Behavioral weight loss counseling (BWL) alone

BWL counseling alone

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Behavioral weight loss counseling (BWL)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The behavioral weight loss program consists of 14 individual lifestyle counseling sessions provided over 24 weeks. Each session will be approximately 15-20 minutes. Visits will be scheduled weekly for the first 4 weeks (weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4) and every-other week from weeks 6-24 (weeks 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24). The sessions will provide behavioral, dietary, and physical counseling.

BWL+VOUCHER

BWL counseling and gift cards to grocery stores

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

BWL+VOUCHER

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This group will receive the BWL program as well as food vouchers, in the form of grocery store gift cards. Participants will be allowed to select to receive gift cards to a grocery store or supermarket from a pre-determined list of stores. Gift cards worth $40 will be emailed or mailed to every 2 weeks after the BWL session.

Behavioral weight loss counseling (BWL)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The behavioral weight loss program consists of 14 individual lifestyle counseling sessions provided over 24 weeks. Each session will be approximately 15-20 minutes. Visits will be scheduled weekly for the first 4 weeks (weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4) and every-other week from weeks 6-24 (weeks 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24). The sessions will provide behavioral, dietary, and physical counseling.

BWL+HOME

BWL counseling and home-delivered boxes of groceries

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

BWL+HOME

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This group will receive the BWL program as well as home-delivered boxes of groceries of low-energy density foods conducive to weight management guidelines. Groceries will include shelf-stable and perishable products like lean meats, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Every 2 weeks, participants assigned to this group will be allowed to select a choice of one of 4 boxes with slightly varied contents. Each box will have approximately $40 worth of groceries.

Behavioral weight loss counseling (BWL)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The behavioral weight loss program consists of 14 individual lifestyle counseling sessions provided over 24 weeks. Each session will be approximately 15-20 minutes. Visits will be scheduled weekly for the first 4 weeks (weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4) and every-other week from weeks 6-24 (weeks 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24). The sessions will provide behavioral, dietary, and physical counseling.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

BWL+VOUCHER

This group will receive the BWL program as well as food vouchers, in the form of grocery store gift cards. Participants will be allowed to select to receive gift cards to a grocery store or supermarket from a pre-determined list of stores. Gift cards worth $40 will be emailed or mailed to every 2 weeks after the BWL session.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

BWL+HOME

This group will receive the BWL program as well as home-delivered boxes of groceries of low-energy density foods conducive to weight management guidelines. Groceries will include shelf-stable and perishable products like lean meats, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Every 2 weeks, participants assigned to this group will be allowed to select a choice of one of 4 boxes with slightly varied contents. Each box will have approximately $40 worth of groceries.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral weight loss counseling (BWL)

The behavioral weight loss program consists of 14 individual lifestyle counseling sessions provided over 24 weeks. Each session will be approximately 15-20 minutes. Visits will be scheduled weekly for the first 4 weeks (weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4) and every-other week from weeks 6-24 (weeks 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24). The sessions will provide behavioral, dietary, and physical counseling.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
3. Age \>18 years
4. BMI \>30 kg/m2 at screening visit
5. Screening positive for food insecurity using a score of \>3 on the 10-item US Adult Food Security Survey Module109
6. Completion of baseline assessments
7. Ability to engage in physical activity (i.e., can walk at least 2 blocks)
8. Willing and able to provide pictures of food receipts to study team (or mail actual receipts)
9. Ability to reliably receive packages at a consistent location in a timely manner
10. Telephone or internet service to communicate with study staff
11. For females of reproductive potential: agreement to use of highly effective contraception for during study participation

Exclusion Criteria

1. Serious medical conditions (e.g., type 1 or type 2 diabetes, renal failure) that may pose a risk to the participant during intervention, cause a change in weight, or limit ability to adhere to the program's behavioral recommendations
2. Significant psychiatric conditions (e.g., active substance abuse, schizophrenia) that may pose a risk to the participant during intervention, cause a change in weight, or limit ability to adhere to the program's behavioral recommendations
3. Breastfeeding, pregnant or planning pregnancy in the next 6 months
4. Planned move from the Philadelphia area in the next 6 months
5. Weight loss of \>5 kg in the previous 90 days
6. Recently began a course of or changed the dosage of medication that can cause significant weight change (±5 kg)
7. Previous or planned obesity treatment with surgery (excluding lap band if removed for \>1 year) or a weight-loss device
8. Use of prescription or over the counter medications for chronic weight management in the past 3 months
9. Household member already participating in study due to potential contamination effects
10. Lack of stable residence and ability to store and prepare food
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Pennsylvania

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Provided Documents

Download supplemental materials such as informed consent forms, study protocols, or participant manuals.

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

R56NR020466-01

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

852467

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id