Optimizing Telehealth-delivery of a Weight Loss Intervention in Older Adults
NCT ID: NCT06044571
Last Updated: 2024-12-17
Study Results
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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RECRUITING
NA
180 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-04-16
2027-09-01
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Procedures (methods): The investigators will conduct a 52-week, two-stage, Sequential, Multiple Assignment, Randomized Trial (SMART) enrolling 180 older adults with obesity and MCC to compare two weight loss interventions: 1) a prescriptively-focused, medically-tailored, weight loss intervention(prescriptive), or 2) a behaviorally-focused, health coaching intervention (behavioral). Consistent with a SMART design, at 8 weeks, the investigators will randomize early non-responders (weight loss of \< 2.5%) to (a) a combination of prescriptive and behavioral interventions; or (b) switching to either a prescriptive, medically-tailored model (or vice versa).
Aim 1 - Efficacy Test the superiority of an initial prescriptive vs. behavioral intervention on the differences in weight loss (primary outcome) and secondary outcomes, using an adaptive strategy for early non-responders in a 52-week, telehealth-based SMART. At 52-weeks, percent weight loss (primary outcome) will be greater among patients initially randomized to a prescriptive intervention, as will global health and physical function, anthropometry, behavioral treatment targets and risk factors, and clinical indices (secondary outcomes).
Aim 2 - Precision Medicine Assess the patterns of initial weight loss and compare strategies for non-responders to weight loss (combined prescriptive and behavioral, or switching initial treatment strategies \[prescriptive to behavioral, or behavioral to prescriptive\]). The investigators will estimate an adaptive strategy (dynamic treatment regime) to give the right intervention to the right participant. The investigators hypothesize that this dynamic regime will lead to a better outcome, on average, compared to the best non-adaptive (fixed) regime
Aim 3 - Cost-Effectiveness Examine the cost-effectiveness from a societal perspective at 78-weeks (26 weeks post-intervention completion). For the initial, first-line interventions, the investigators will estimate the incremental cost per percent weight change and assess secondary outcomes of the incremental cost for maintaining at least a 5% weight loss, and quality-adjusted life years. The investigators will also model the cost-effectiveness of the precision medicine approach predicted to have the greatest individualized likelihood of weight loss response.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
SEQUENTIAL
TREATMENT
DOUBLE
Study Groups
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Prescriptive
A diet and exercise prescription individually tailored to each participant's multiple chronic health conditions will provide concrete advice with less autonomy, and will minimize risks of physiologic changes due to weight loss (hypoglycemia, hypotension, muscle loss). Licensed, trained professionals- Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs) will introduce clinical reasoning, knowledge, and experience, assess biological adaptations to weight loss, modify prescriptions based on changing medical needs, and provide real-time and asynchronous guidance. Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs) will deliver group and individual, live sessions to the home by telemedicine. Sessions will last 60-min (Registered Dietician Nutritionist: 20 min; Physical Therapy: 40 min).
Prescriptive
Prescriptive A diet and exercise prescription individually tailored to each participant's multiple chronic health conditions will provide concrete advice with less autonomy, and will minimize risks of physiologic changes due to weight loss (hypoglycemia, hypotension, muscle loss). Licensed, trained professionals, Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs), will introduce clinical reasoning, knowledge, and experience, assess biological adaptations to weight loss, modify prescriptions based on changing medical needs, and provide real-time and asynchronous guidance. Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs)will deliver group and individual, live sessions to the home by telemedicine. Sessions will last 60-min (Registered Dietician Nutritionist: 20 min; Physical Therapist: 40 min).
Behavioral
Health coaches have a bachelor's degree and take a 6-8-week certification program. Health coaches will use a structured manual involving evidence-based behavior change techniques (problem-solving, self-regulation, motivation). Group and individual sessions will be via telemedicine.
Conceptual model targets include:
1. barrier identification: problem-solving to identify and address barriers to meet goals
2. self-regulation: a focus on self-monitoring and behavior goals with feedback
3. autonomous motivation: self-selecting goals, motivational interviewing use, and creating plans; and (d) self-efficacy: learning from group experiences, verbal persuasion, and encouraging pursuit of goals in the face of setbacks.
Behavioral
Behavioral Health coaches have a bachelor's degree and take a 6-8-week certification program. Behavioral Health coaches will use a structured manual involving evidence-based behavior change techniques (problem-solving, self-regulation, motivation). Group and individual sessions will be via telemedicine.
Responders to Prescriptive- Continue Prescriptive
The prescriptive strategy will continue among participants who responded to this intervention well initially, meaning that participants who lost greater than or equal to 2.5 percent (%) of their body weight using the prescriptive intervention. Participants will continue their diet and exercise programs that were initially tailored to them.
Prescriptive
Prescriptive A diet and exercise prescription individually tailored to each participant's multiple chronic health conditions will provide concrete advice with less autonomy, and will minimize risks of physiologic changes due to weight loss (hypoglycemia, hypotension, muscle loss). Licensed, trained professionals, Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs), will introduce clinical reasoning, knowledge, and experience, assess biological adaptations to weight loss, modify prescriptions based on changing medical needs, and provide real-time and asynchronous guidance. Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs)will deliver group and individual, live sessions to the home by telemedicine. Sessions will last 60-min (Registered Dietician Nutritionist: 20 min; Physical Therapist: 40 min).
Non-responders to Prescriptive- Switch to Behavioral
Participants who lost less than 2.5 percent (%) of their body weight initially will be randomized to a different type of intervention. One possibility could be that participants switch first-line treatment from a prescriptive strategy to the alternative (behavioral) as participants may need motivation or problem-solving.
Behavioral
Behavioral Health coaches have a bachelor's degree and take a 6-8-week certification program. Behavioral Health coaches will use a structured manual involving evidence-based behavior change techniques (problem-solving, self-regulation, motivation). Group and individual sessions will be via telemedicine.
Non-responders to Prescriptive- Combination of Prescriptive and Behavioral
Participants who lost less than 2.5 percent (%) of their body weight early on will be re-randomized to a different type of intervention. One possibility could be that participants will have a combined prescriptive and behavioral intervention- three guideline-advised strategies that may be synergistic in a subset of participants requiring knowledge, and needing goal setting and problem-solving skills. This approach is available in multispecialty, tertiary care obesity clinics.
Prescriptive
Prescriptive A diet and exercise prescription individually tailored to each participant's multiple chronic health conditions will provide concrete advice with less autonomy, and will minimize risks of physiologic changes due to weight loss (hypoglycemia, hypotension, muscle loss). Licensed, trained professionals, Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs), will introduce clinical reasoning, knowledge, and experience, assess biological adaptations to weight loss, modify prescriptions based on changing medical needs, and provide real-time and asynchronous guidance. Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs)will deliver group and individual, live sessions to the home by telemedicine. Sessions will last 60-min (Registered Dietician Nutritionist: 20 min; Physical Therapist: 40 min).
Behavioral
Behavioral Health coaches have a bachelor's degree and take a 6-8-week certification program. Behavioral Health coaches will use a structured manual involving evidence-based behavior change techniques (problem-solving, self-regulation, motivation). Group and individual sessions will be via telemedicine.
Responders to Behavioral- Continue Behavioral
The behavioral strategy will continue among participants who responded to this intervention well initially, meaning that participants who lost greater than or equal to 2.5 percent (%) of their body weight using the behavioral intervention.
Behavioral
Behavioral Health coaches have a bachelor's degree and take a 6-8-week certification program. Behavioral Health coaches will use a structured manual involving evidence-based behavior change techniques (problem-solving, self-regulation, motivation). Group and individual sessions will be via telemedicine.
Non-responders to Behavioral- Switch to Prescriptive
Participants who lost less than 2.5 percent (%) of their body weight early on will be re-randomized to a different type of intervention. One possibility could be that participants switch first-line treatment strategy to the alternative (prescriptive) as participants may need knowledge to support adherence.
Prescriptive
Prescriptive A diet and exercise prescription individually tailored to each participant's multiple chronic health conditions will provide concrete advice with less autonomy, and will minimize risks of physiologic changes due to weight loss (hypoglycemia, hypotension, muscle loss). Licensed, trained professionals, Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs), will introduce clinical reasoning, knowledge, and experience, assess biological adaptations to weight loss, modify prescriptions based on changing medical needs, and provide real-time and asynchronous guidance. Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs)will deliver group and individual, live sessions to the home by telemedicine. Sessions will last 60-min (Registered Dietician Nutritionist: 20 min; Physical Therapist: 40 min).
Non-responders to Behavioral- Combination of Prescriptive and Behavioral
Participants who lost less than 2.5 percent (%) of their body weight early on will be re-randomized to a different type of intervention. One possibility could be that participants will have a combined prescriptive and behavioral intervention - three guideline-advised strategies that may be synergistic in a subset of participants requiring knowledge, and needing goal setting and problem-solving skills. This approach is available in multispecialty, tertiary care obesity clinics.
Prescriptive
Prescriptive A diet and exercise prescription individually tailored to each participant's multiple chronic health conditions will provide concrete advice with less autonomy, and will minimize risks of physiologic changes due to weight loss (hypoglycemia, hypotension, muscle loss). Licensed, trained professionals, Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs), will introduce clinical reasoning, knowledge, and experience, assess biological adaptations to weight loss, modify prescriptions based on changing medical needs, and provide real-time and asynchronous guidance. Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs)will deliver group and individual, live sessions to the home by telemedicine. Sessions will last 60-min (Registered Dietician Nutritionist: 20 min; Physical Therapist: 40 min).
Behavioral
Behavioral Health coaches have a bachelor's degree and take a 6-8-week certification program. Behavioral Health coaches will use a structured manual involving evidence-based behavior change techniques (problem-solving, self-regulation, motivation). Group and individual sessions will be via telemedicine.
Interventions
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Prescriptive
Prescriptive A diet and exercise prescription individually tailored to each participant's multiple chronic health conditions will provide concrete advice with less autonomy, and will minimize risks of physiologic changes due to weight loss (hypoglycemia, hypotension, muscle loss). Licensed, trained professionals, Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs), will introduce clinical reasoning, knowledge, and experience, assess biological adaptations to weight loss, modify prescriptions based on changing medical needs, and provide real-time and asynchronous guidance. Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDNs) and Physical Therapists (PTs)will deliver group and individual, live sessions to the home by telemedicine. Sessions will last 60-min (Registered Dietician Nutritionist: 20 min; Physical Therapist: 40 min).
Behavioral
Behavioral Health coaches have a bachelor's degree and take a 6-8-week certification program. Behavioral Health coaches will use a structured manual involving evidence-based behavior change techniques (problem-solving, self-regulation, motivation). Group and individual sessions will be via telemedicine.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Community-dwelling adult living independently (not a resident of a nursing home or an assisted living);
* Aged 65-85 years 85 (unclear benefits of weight loss if \>85 years)7-9
* Obesity (body mass index: ≥30 kg/m2);
* English-speaking;
-≥2 chronic medical conditions that require ongoing care (excluding dementia and osteoporosis as a chronic condition) - these are based on Medicare' MCC (e.g., alcohol abuse, arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid), asthma, atrial fibrillation, autism spectrum disorders, cancer (breast, colorectal, lung, prostate), chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, drug/substance abuse, heart failure, hepatitis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease Syndrome, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, schizophrenia/other psychotic disorders, stroke). We acknowledge that there are no fully defined definitions and hence we will be assessing MCC (or multimorbidity) in different manners;
* medical clearance by PCP (Primary Care Provider)
* Callahan cognitive screen ≥ 3 correct items; items (a score of three or more correct items indicates an ability to consent);
* OARS (Older Americans Resources and Services)survey score of ≥12; (a score of 12 or more indicates no impairments or disability)
* Readiness to change score of ≥6/10;
Exclusion Criteria
* documented diagnosis in the electronic health record of dementia of any type;
* documented diagnosis in the electronic health record of weight loss surgery in the past;
* untreated psychiatric disorder that would impair the ability to participate (bipolar, schizophrenia) based on medical record review;
* life-threatening illness;
* terminal illness (e.g., palliative care, hospice patient) based on medical record review whose life expectancy is \<12 months as determined by a physician;
* nursing home or hospital admission in past three months;
* advanced comorbidities based on medical record review;
* heart - recent hospital admission for heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke in past 3 months, unstable disease (new york class III or IV congestive heart failure);
* chronic renal failure - chronic kidney disease stage IV or V (e.g., GFR \[glomerular filtration rate\] \<30ml/min);
* non-skin cancer - history of requiring active treatment in the past year;
* liver failure or cirrhosis;
* chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - on oxygen or requiring steroids;
* weight loss contraindication as noted by the PCP;
* instability of weight loss, which is greater than 5% weight loss in the past 12 weeks;
* anti-obesity medications including orlistat, semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepetide, naltrexone-bupropion and phentermine prior to initiation of study procedures;
* current use of bone acting medications (e.g., raloxifene, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone during the past year, Parathyroid Hormone Analogues (PTH-analogues \[e.g., teriparatide, abaloparatide\], sclerostin) inhibitors (romosozumbab), RANK ligand inhibitors (denosumab) or bisphosphonates during the last two years;
* osteoporosis by medical record (t-score -2.5 and below on hip or spine scan) or history of fragility fractures;
* elective surgery in next 12 months;
* recent (\<1 mo) COVID-19 infection;
* current or past participation (in the past 12 months) in another weight-loss study;
* Planning on moving out of the area in the next 18 months.
65 Years
85 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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National Institute on Aging (NIA)
NIH
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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John Batsis, MD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Locations
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UNC Center for Aging and Health
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Other Identifiers
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23-1146
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id