Improving Weight Management at the VA

Summary

Compared to the general public, a higher percentage of Veterans are obese or overweight with a weight-related medical condition. The VA currently offers an effective weight management program called MOVE!, but the majority of eligible patients do not attend. Veterans see their primary care providers (PCPs) very frequently, making it an important place to receive information on weight management. However, PCPs often fail to discuss weight management with patients, so interventions are needed to encourage weight management counseling within the team-based care model used in primary care at the VA. Investigators used focus groups, interviews, and other research methods to develop the MOVE! Toward Your Goals (MTG) intervention. This intervention combines online tools, counseling by a health coach, and the team-based care model to deliver weight management information to patients.

Investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial of 320 Veteran patients and their providers at two VA sites (Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses, New York Harbor Healthcare System) to study the impact of the 12-month MTG intervention when compared to Enhanced Usual Care. Veterans in the MTG intervention arm will take the MTG tool, receive personalized weight management materials, health coach counseling, and go to their scheduled primary care (PC) visit. After the initial visit, MTG-arm Veterans will receive follow up telephone coaching over 12 months. All Veterans will attend follow-up visits at 3, 6 and 12 months to assess body mass index, diet and physical activity, and goal attainment.

The objectives of this study are to: (a) test the impact of the MTG intervention on weight and behavior changes; (b) identify predictors of weight loss in Veterans who use goal setting techniques; and (c) determine the impact of the MTG intervention on primary care team obesity-related counseling practices and attitudes.

Conditions

• Obesity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

MOVE! Toward Your Goals

Patients will take an online tool accessing weight management and lifestyle behaviors, and will meet with a health coach regularly to establish SMART goals to help them in their weight loss journey. The goals may be supported by the patients' PACT members

BEHAVIORAL

Enhanced Usual Care

Patients will be given information on "healthy living messages" that were created by the VA, and given more information on specific messages they are interested in from the health coaches, but will not receive official coaching. These messages are the current standard of care at the VA for obesity counseling.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Melanie R. Jay, MD MS · Manhattan Campus of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, New York, NY

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

69 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-08-03

Primary Completion

2017-05-31

Completion

2018-03-05

Countries

• United States

Study Locations