Engaging Rural Men With Mobile Technologies for Weight Loss

Summary

Overweight and obese men in rural Northeast Nebraska are an unrepresented, at-risk group exhibiting rising rates of cardiovascular disease, poor access to preventive care, and a rural milieu that contributes to their sedentary physical activity and unhealthy diet. This study proposes to use a pragmatic randomized controlled trial and community engaged research approaches to 1) determine the feasibility and acceptability of a commercially available, smart phone self-monitoring app (premium-version) plus text-based coaching and daily weighing via Wi-Fi scale intervention for achieving weight loss, 2) determine preliminary efficacy of this intervention group to a comparison group receiving only a self-monitoring app (basic-version) in achieving the outcomes of weight loss (kilogram) and improved dietary and physical activity behaviors (secondary) at 6 months post-baseline, and 3) determine quantitative and qualitative indicators of community capacity to support a contextually relevant weight loss intervention. Eighty men (ages 40-69) with body mass index of 28 or higher, randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to intervention group or comparison group. Men will complete baseline assessments (weight, % body fat, body mass index height, blood pressure, health history, dietary intake, physical activity frequency/intensity) and receive orientation to the mobile technologies (app features, text messaging, Wi-Fi scale). Men will track their dietary intake, physical activity, and weight on the app for 12 weeks. After the 3-month intervention, post-measure assessments (weight, % body fat, BMI, dietary intake, PA frequency/intensity, technology usability surveys) will be collected at 3 and 6 months post-baseline. At 6 months post-baseline, two groups (n=8 each) of intervention completers will be purposively selected to share their perceptions of the intervention efficacy in an evaluative focus group. A community advisory board comprising local leaders within the men's social network, together with investigators and rural student nurses will guide community outreach efforts for study recruitment, implementation and evaluation. Study findings will be evaluated with the community to inform local dissemination, future intervention revision, and determination of community capacity for support of a larger clinical trial.

Conditions

• Weight Loss

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Mobile Technology Plus

The intervention group MT+ will receive the premium-version mobile phone app with social comparison group, behavior change text messaging, and daily self-weighing via Wi-Fi scale.

BEHAVIORAL

Mobile Technology

The comparison group MT will receive the basic-version mobile phone app only to self monitor eating, activity, and weight.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of Nebraska

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ann M Berger, PhD · University of Nebraska

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Max Age

69 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-06-06

Primary Completion

2022-06-30

Completion

2022-06-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations