ObesityPhase 1/2ENGAGEDNCT01051713
ENGAGED: E-Networks Guiding Adherence to Goals for Exercise and Diet
A Phase 1/2 study testing Technology Supported and Standard in people with Obesity, run by Northwestern University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The ENGAGED study is a 12-month randomized controlled trial investigating different strategies to improve weight loss in overweight individuals. All participants will receive an effective weight loss treatment: either self-guided or group formats. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Obesity
- What is being tested?
- Technology Supported and Standard
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 96 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Jul 2011to May 2013
- Phase
- Phase 1/2
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- BMI between 30-40
- weight stable (not gained/lost more than 25 lbs in the past 6 months)
- not enrolled in any formal weight-loss program
- interested in losing weight
- willing and able to record dietary intake and weight for 6 months and wear an accelerometer
- willing to attend 8 weekly groups and 2 follow up assessments at the Northwestern Chicago campus
- expect to reside in the Chicago land area for the next 12 months
Who cannot join
- any unstable medical conditions (i.e. uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, cancer undergoing active treatment, a cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months)
- history of insulin-dependent diabetes
- Crohn's disease
- diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea requiring intervention
- required use of an assistive device for mobility (i.e. cane, wheelchair)
- BMI > 40
Show all 19Show fewer
- hospitalization for a psychiatric disorder within the past 5 years
- those at risk for adverse cardiovascular events with moderate intensity activity
- those currently taking weight loss medication or committed to following an incompatible dietary regimen
- women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or lactating
- Bulimia Nervosa
- suicide ideation
- current binge eating disorder
- those currently taking medications known to cause weight gain (i.e. Prednisone, Depakote, Diebeta, Diabinese, Cardura, Inderal, Zyprexa)
- current substance abuse or dependence
- plantar fasciitis
- current substance and/or alcohol dependence
- depression
- ADHD
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The ENGAGED study is a 12-month randomized controlled trial investigating different strategies to improve weight loss in overweight individuals. All participants will receive an effective weight loss treatment: either self-guided or group formats. All treatment will be provided in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University. Participants who receive the self-guided weight loss treatment will be provided with a weight loss manual that contains proven behavioral weight loss strategies. Those participants who receive the group treatment will take part in 8 weekly, 90 minute group sessions in our clinic at 680 N. Lakeshore Dr., Chicago, IL 60048. Some participants will also be assigned an individual coach, who will communicate with them regularly via phone, email, and/or text message for the duration of the study. All participants must be willing and able to record food and beverage intake (either on a smartphone or on paper) and be willing to wear a small and unobtrusive physical activity measurement device for the first six-months of the study. Additionally, all participants will be asked to attend 3 follow-up assessment visits at our clinic at months 3, 6 and 12 after the study begins. Participants will be compensated for completing each of the 3 follow-up assessments. All participants will be part of a team weight loss competition at 3 and 6 months with financial incentive to be split evenly among the winning team.
Read the detailed description
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) intensive lifestyle intervention is the gold standard weight loss treatment for adults with cardiometabolic risk factors. Despite its efficacy, the DPP has not been widely adopted, because its 16 individual, face-to-face sessions with a specialist are considered too burdensome and expensive to be a sustainable program. Attempts to reduce cost by decreasing session number have yielded greatly diminished weight loss. Behavioral adherence to diet and activity goals declines and weight regain routinely begins once frequent face-to-face meetings cease. The still unmet challenge of DPP implementation is how to reduce treatment intensity without excising the regular social support, accountability, and feedback that are essential to maintain adherence. We hypothesize that it is feasible to implement DPP Intensive Lifestyle Treatment as effectively but twice as efficiently by using hand held technology to preserve feedback, accountability, and regular social support. The smartphone-based technology system to be tested is guided by Carver and Scheier's control systems theory of self-regulation. Initial formative research will upgrade the smartphone with engaging features that motivate participants to use the device to self-monitor and interact with a coach and peer support group. Use of the finalized tool will be compared to usual recording on paper records in a preliminary 3-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 96 obese adults. By enabling peer support, accountability, and feedback on diet, physical activity, and weight loss goals continuously through the 6-month intervention period, the ENGAGED system is expected to enhance (1) behavioral adherence [operationalized by (a) self-monitoring of diet and activity and (b) attainment of diet and activity goals], and (2) weight loss. An enabling technology that integrates specialist and peer support resources to improve treatment adherence could help to curtail the obesity epidemic by increasing the efficiency, feasibility, and reach of effective DPP lifestyle intervention.
- Conditions
- Obesity
- Being tested
- Technology Supported, Standard
- Keywords
- obesity, behavioraladherence, weight loss, smartphone
- Medical subject headings
- Obesity, Weight Loss
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Technology SupportedBehavioural
Those randomized to the Technology Supported condition will record dietary intake and weight on the smartphone, using the user-friendly, persuasive interface developed in Phase I. They will be expected to enter their dietary intake into the smartphone daily throughout the day. They will also be expected to enter their weight and to wear the accelerometer daily. Time-stamped data from the smartphone will upload automatically to the study server throughout the day, where it will be visible to the lifestyle coach. The participant's real-time diet, activity, and weight data relative to goals will also be visually depicted on the participant's smartphone. The anticipated web platform will be developed specifically for the ENGAGED participants. The coach will provide feedback on diet and activity self-monitoring and goal adherence at least weekly by phone, e-mail or text during weeks 1-8 and then at least monthly through the 6 month follow-up.
StandardBehavioural
Those randomized to the Standard condition will record everything they eat and will total their daily fat grams and calories on the "Keeping Track" form used in the DPP. They will turn in their self-monitoring diaries and download their accelerometer (but not see those data) at weekly group sessions 1 through 8. Thereafter they will be expected to turn in paper data monthly, in person at the months 3 and 6 assessments and via mail, fax or e-mail for months 4 and 5. Accelerometer data will be downloaded at in-person visits.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Experimental | Those randomized to the Standard condition will record everything they eat and will total their daily fat grams and calories on the "Keeping Track" form used in the DPP. They will turn in their self-monitoring diaries and download their accelerometer (but not see those data) at weekly group sessions 1 through 8. Thereafter they will be expected to turn in paper data monthly, in person at the months 3 and 6 assessments and via mail, fax or e-mail for months 4 and 5. Accelerometer data will be downloaded at in-person visits. Receives: Behavioral: Standard |
| Technology Supported condition | Experimental | Those randomized to the Technology Supported condition will record dietary intake and weight on the smartphone, using the user-friendly, persuasive interface developed in Phase I. They will be expected to enter their dietary intake into the smartphone daily throughout the day. They will also be expected to enter their weight and to wear the accelerometer daily. Time-stamped data from the smartphone will upload automatically to the study server throughout the day, where it will be visible to the lifestyle coach. The participant's real-time diet, activity, and weight data relative to goals will also be visually depicted on the participant's smartphone. The anticipated web platform will be developed specifically for the ENGAGED participants. The coach will provide feedback on diet and activity self-monitoring and goal adherence at least weekly by phone, e-mail or text during weeks 1-8 and then at least monthly through the 6 month follow-up. Receives: Behavioral: Technology Supported |
| Self-Guided | No intervention | Participants in the Self-Guided condition will receive DPP DVDs (3 DVDs and 1 CD) at the beginning of the study. This condition will not receive any direct dietary or physical activity interventions outside of the DVDs. Although Self-Guided participants will be receiving the same 7% weight loss goal as the other two groups, they will not be receiving physical activity or diet goals. The DVDs cover the initial 12-weekly sessions of the DPP, with the sessions portrayed by professional actors. They will also be provided with a supplemental DVD which includes a manual for each of the 12 sessions. They will also be giving the Keeping Track booklets and asked to record their diet and activity daily. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Weight loss
Measured: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Behavioral adherence
Measured: 3 months, 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jan 2010 (estimated)
- Study startJul 2011
- Primary completionMay 2013
- Study completionMay 2013
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for ObesityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Northwestern UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1/2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 96 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Bonnie Spring, Northwestern University
- Investigators
- Bonnie Spring, Ph.D., Principal investigator, Northwestern University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01051713
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RC1DK087126-01
- Acronym
- ENGAGED
- Status last verified
- Nov 2016
- First submitted
- 15 Jan 2010
- Last updated
- 11 Nov 2016
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Publications
Spring B, Pellegrini CA, Pfammatter A, Duncan JM, Pictor A, McFadden HG, Siddique J, Hedeker D. Effects of an abbreviated obesity intervention supported by mobile technology: The ENGAGED randomized clinical trial. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017 Jul;25(7):1191-1198. doi: 10.1002/oby.21842. Epub 2017 May 11.
PubMed 28494136Pellegrini CA, Duncan JM, Moller AC, Buscemi J, Sularz A, DeMott A, Pictor A, Pagoto S, Siddique J, Spring B. A smartphone-supported weight loss program: design of the ENGAGED randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health. 2012 Nov 30;12:1041. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-1041.
PubMed 23194256
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Nov 2016. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- ENGAGED: E-Networks Guiding Adherence to Goals for Exercise and Diet
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01051713
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ENGAGED / RC1DK087126-01
- Conditions
- Obesity
- Keywords
- obesity, behavioraladherence, weight loss, smartphone
- Phase
- Phase 1/2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 96 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Study start
- Jul 2011
- Primary completion
- May 2013 (actual)
- Study completion
- May 2013 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Jan 2010 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The ENGAGED study is a 12-month randomized controlled trial investigating different strategies to improve weight loss in overweight individuals. All participants will receive an effective weight loss treatment: either self-guided or group formats. All treatment will be provided in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University. Participants who receive the self-guided weight loss treatment will be provided with a weight loss manual that contains proven behavioral weight loss strategies. Those participants who receive the group treatment will take part in 8 weekly, 90 minute group sessions in our clinic at 680 N. Lakeshore Dr., Chicago, IL 60048. Some participants will also be assigned an individual coach, who will communicate with them regularly via phone, email, and/or text message for the duration of the study. All participants must be willing and able to record food and beverage intake (either on a smartphone or on paper) and be willing to wear a small and unobtrusive physical activity measurement device for the first six-months of the study. Additionally, all participants will be asked to attend 3 follow-up assessment visits at our clinic at months 3, 6 and 12 after the study begins. Participants will be compensated for completing each of the 3 follow-up assessments. All participants will be part of a team weight loss competition at 3 and 6 months with financial incentive to be split evenly among the winning team.
Detailed description
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) intensive lifestyle intervention is the gold standard weight loss treatment for adults with cardiometabolic risk factors. Despite its efficacy, the DPP has not been widely adopted, because its 16 individual, face-to-face sessions with a specialist are considered too burdensome and expensive to be a sustainable program. Attempts to reduce cost by decreasing session number have yielded greatly diminished weight loss. Behavioral adherence to diet and activity goals declines and weight regain routinely begins once frequent face-to-face meetings cease. The still unmet challenge of DPP implementation is how to reduce treatment intensity without excising the regular social support, accountability, and feedback that are essential to maintain adherence. We hypothesize that it is feasible to implement DPP Intensive Lifestyle Treatment as effectively but twice as efficiently by using hand held technology to preserve feedback, accountability, and regular social support. The smartphone-based technology system to be tested is guided by Carver and Scheier's control systems theory of self-regulation. Initial formative research will upgrade the smartphone with engaging features that motivate participants to use the device to self-monitor and interact with a coach and peer support group. Use of the finalized tool will be compared to usual recording on paper records in a preliminary 3-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 96 obese adults. By enabling peer support, accountability, and feedback on diet, physical activity, and weight loss goals continuously through the 6-month intervention period, the ENGAGED system is expected to enhance (1) behavioral adherence [operationalized by (a) self-monitoring of diet and activity and (b) attainment of diet and activity goals], and (2) weight loss. An enabling technology that integrates specialist and peer support resources to improve treatment adherence could help to curtail the obesity epidemic by increasing the efficiency, feasibility, and reach of effective DPP lifestyle intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Experimental | Behavioral: StandardThose randomized to the Standard condition will record everything they eat and will total their daily fat grams and calories on the "Keeping Track" form used in the DPP. They will turn in their self-monitoring diaries and download their accelerometer (but not see those data) at weekly group sessions 1 through 8. Thereafter they will be expected to turn in paper data monthly, in person at the months 3 and 6 assessments and via mail, fax or e-mail for months 4 and 5. Accelerometer data will be downloaded at in-person visits. |
| Technology Supported condition | Experimental | Behavioral: Technology SupportedThose randomized to the Technology Supported condition will record dietary intake and weight on the smartphone, using the user-friendly, persuasive interface developed in Phase I. They will be expected to enter their dietary intake into the smartphone daily throughout the day. They will also be expected to enter their weight and to wear the accelerometer daily. Time-stamped data from the smartphone will upload automatically to the study server throughout the day, where it will be visible to the lifestyle coach. The participant's real-time diet, activity, and weight data relative to goals will also be visually depicted on the participant's smartphone. The anticipated web platform will be developed specifically for the ENGAGED participants. The coach will provide feedback on diet and activity self-monitoring and goal adherence at least weekly by phone, e-mail or text during weeks 1-8 and then at least monthly through the 6 month follow-up. |
| Self-Guided | No intervention | –Participants in the Self-Guided condition will receive DPP DVDs (3 DVDs and 1 CD) at the beginning of the study. This condition will not receive any direct dietary or physical activity interventions outside of the DVDs. Although Self-Guided participants will be receiving the same 7% weight loss goal as the other two groups, they will not be receiving physical activity or diet goals. The DVDs cover the initial 12-weekly sessions of the DPP, with the sessions portrayed by professional actors. They will also be provided with a supplemental DVD which includes a manual for each of the 12 sessions. They will also be giving the Keeping Track booklets and asked to record their diet and activity daily. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- BMI between 30-40
- weight stable (not gained/lost more than 25 lbs in the past 6 months)
- not enrolled in any formal weight-loss program
- interested in losing weight
- willing and able to record dietary intake and weight for 6 months and wear an accelerometer
Key exclusion criteria (19 listed)
- any unstable medical conditions (i.e. uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, cancer undergoing active treatment, a cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months)
- history of insulin-dependent diabetes
- Crohn's disease
- diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea requiring intervention
- required use of an assistive device for mobility (i.e. cane, wheelchair)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Technology SupportedThose randomized to the Technology Supported condition will record dietary intake and weight on the smartphone, using the user-friendly, persuasive interface developed in Phase I. They will be expected to enter their dietary intake into the smartphone daily throughout the day. They will also be expected to enter their weight and to wear the accelerometer daily. Time-stamped data from the smartphone will upload automatically to the study server throughout the day, where it will be visible to the lifestyle coach. The participant's real-time diet, activity, and weight data relative to goals will also be visually depicted on the participant's smartphone. The anticipated web platform will be developed specifically for the ENGAGED participants. The coach will provide feedback on diet and activity self-monitoring and goal adherence at least weekly by phone, e-mail or text during weeks 1-8 and then at least monthly through the 6 month follow-up. | Behavioural | Technology Supported condition |
| StandardThose randomized to the Standard condition will record everything they eat and will total their daily fat grams and calories on the "Keeping Track" form used in the DPP. They will turn in their self-monitoring diaries and download their accelerometer (but not see those data) at weekly group sessions 1 through 8. Thereafter they will be expected to turn in paper data monthly, in person at the months 3 and 6 assessments and via mail, fax or e-mail for months 4 and 5. Accelerometer data will be downloaded at in-person visits. | Behavioural | Standard |
Primary outcome
Weight loss
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months
1 secondary outcome
Behavioral adherence
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Nov 2016.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 28494136Spring B, Pellegrini CA, Pfammatter A, Duncan JM, Pictor A, McFadden HG, Siddique J, Hedeker D. Effects of an abbreviated obesity intervention supported by mobile technology: The ENGAGED randomized clinical trial. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017 Jul;25(7):1191-1198. doi: 10.1002/oby.21842. Epub 2017 May 11.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 23194256Pellegrini CA, Duncan JM, Moller AC, Buscemi J, Sularz A, DeMott A, Pictor A, Pagoto S, Siddique J, Spring B. A smartphone-supported weight loss program: design of the ENGAGED randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health. 2012 Nov 30;12:1041. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-1041.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Bonnie Spring, Ph.D. principal investigator
Northwestern University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1/2 study testing Technology Supported and Standard in people with Obesity, run by Northwestern University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 19 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Nov 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this combined phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Weight loss (time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01051713, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Nov 2016.