Active You: Feasibility of a Unique Physical Activity Program to Prevent Diabetes and Heart Disease

Summary

Individuals who are overweight/obese are more vulnerable to type 2 diabetes (T2D). Current evidence suggests that PA, even without dietary prescription, can be efficacious in preventing T2D. Yet most Americans, especially those who are overweight/obese, are not physically active. Socioenvironmental barriers to physical activity (PA) such as body image concerns and limited access to fitness facilities contribute to the low levels of PA observed in overweight/obese adults. Web-based PA programs have been developed to address these barriers, but the outcomes have been marginal. Qualitative studies suggest that individuals who are overweight/obese prefer PA programs that feature people they can relate to especially in body size, fitness status and age. Previously, the investigators have included these preferences in a technology-based Physical Activity for The Heart (PATH) intervention that leverages open source platforms, such as YouTube, to promote PA in any setting. In this application, the investigators propose to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of PATH in promoting PA and reducing cardiometabolic risk in adults who are overweight/obese and at high risk of diabetes. In Aim 1 the investigators will conduct a 12-week randomized clinical trial including 52 adults who are overweight/obese and at high risk of diabetes to assess the feasibility and acceptability of PATH. In Aim 2 investigators will examine the trend in PA and cardiometabolic risk change from baseline to post-intervention. This approach is innovative because it leverages open source technologies to provide low-cost, action-oriented PA resources that match the preferences of adults who are overweight/obese. This contribution will be significant because PATH could offer a convenient, enjoyable and scalable program that features "similar others" to promote PA in overweight/obese adults at high risk of diabetes.

Conditions

• Cardiovascular Risk Factor
• Prediabetes
• Overweight and Obesity
• Sedentary Behavior

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

The Physical Activity for The Heart (PATH) intervention

The web-based Physical Activity for The Heart (PATH) intervention leverages openly accessible platforms, such as YouTube, to proffer workout videos that match the participants preferences. Currently, PATH includes over 90 workout videos vetted by a team of experts and curated on the PATH website in 3 controlled levels of intensity (beginner, intermediate, proficient) to foster gradual progression from low to high intensity PA in accordance with the FITT-VP (frequency, intensity, time, type, volume, progression) principle.

BEHAVIORAL

Be Active Your Way Booklet

Be Active Your Way booklet was developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to help individuals integrate PA in their daily lives. It simply encourages individuals to increase their PA gradually and gives them examples of things that they can do.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Pittsburgh

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jacob Kariuki, PhD · University of Pittsburgh

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-10-27

Primary Completion

2022-03-12

Completion

2022-03-12

Countries

• United States

Study Locations