MOVE OUT: A Partnership With Veterans Groups to Enhance Weight Management in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Summary

Obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and poor cholesterol levels. For this reason, obesity is likely the most important single contributor to cardiovascular mortality in the United States. Fortunately, intensive weight management programs are an effective treatment for obesity. Such programs help people lose weight and improve their measures of cardiac risk. In response to the growing numbers of obese Veterans being treated at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities, the VHA developed the MOVE! Program. Veterans who commit to MOVE! and participate actively do lose weight. Unfortunately, MOVE!, like other weight management programs, requires its participants to attend classes and to exercise, often at locations and times that are inconvenient. The investigators propose to make it easier for eligible patients at the Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center (ZVAMC) to participate by offering MOVE-style classes and exercise groups at a variety of locations, days, and times. The investigators' program-MOVE OUT-may provide a model for VHA to use nationwide.

Conditions

• Obesity
• Overweight
• Hypertension
• Diabetes Mellitus

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

MOVE OUT

The MOVE OUT intervention builds on the high quality information provided by the nationally-developed MOVE program by adding 1) peer support; 2) convenient local access to educational sessions, which allows the material to be delivered in smaller, more easily retained aliquots; 3) convenient local exercise opportunities; and 4) open-ended availability of both education and exercise support.

BEHAVIORAL

MOVE!

As part of routine care at the ZVAMC, all patients who are eligible for the present study are identified by a "clinical reminder." This reminder prompts the PCP to determine if the person would benefit from a weight loss program, and to refer them to MOVE if they and the patient agree that it would be beneficial. The MOVE program in Milwaukee can be tailored by the patient and PCP, but includes dietitian assessment, education, weekly weigh-ins, follow-up classes, and exercise programs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The American Legion Department of Wisconsin

  collaborator OTHER

• Veterans Of Foreign Wars Of The United States Department Of Wisconsin

  collaborator OTHER

• All Saints Catholic Church, Milwaukee

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Three Holy Women Catholic Parish

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Veterans 76 Ltd.

  collaborator OTHER

• Dryhootch of America, Inc.

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• VA Office of Research and Development

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Jeffrey C Whittle, MD MPH · Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

21 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-04-30

Primary Completion

2015-03-31

Completion

2015-06-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations