Obesity and Physical Activity: Feasibility Study

Summary

The Physical Activity Self-efficacy (PAS) intervention is a web-based behavioral intervention newly developed to promote physical activity in adults with obesity. The conceptual framework for the PAS intervention is based on self-efficacy theory. The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the PAS online intervention for adults with obesity recruited from a local weight management center in the United States of America (USA). The study design is a prospective, double-blind, parallel group randomized pilot trial. Thirty participants will be randomly assigned to the PAS group or usual care group to achieve a 1:1 group assignment. Recruitment of participants is scheduled to begin in January 2024 or earlier at a local weight management center within a private healthcare system in the USA. There are five eligibility criteria for participation in this study (e.g., a body mass index ≥ 25.00 kg/m2). Eligibility verification and data collection will be conducted online. Three waves of data collection will take up to 14 weeks depending on participants' progress in the study. Instruments designed to measure demographic information, anthropometric characteristics, self-efficacy, and acceptability will be included in the survey battery. A research-grade accelerometer will be used to measure free-living physical activity objectively. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistical models under an intention-to-treat approach. This study will be sponsored by the Transdisciplinary Areas of Excellence Seed Grant Program from Binghamton University.

Eligibility

Age range

18–64 years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Interventions

• Behavioral
  Physical Activity Self-efficacy (PAS) intervention

  The PAS intervention will be a web-based intervention to address the unique barriers to physical activity in adults with obesity, based on self-efficacy theory and effective behavioral change techniques. Self-efficacy is specified as a mediating psychological variable in the conceptual model for the promotion of physical activity. Self-efficacy refers to domain-specific beliefs (e.g., job-, transport-, domestic-, leisure-related physical activity) about their ability to execute differing levels of performance given situational demands. There is a rich literature on the importance of targeting self-efficacy as a modifiable mediating variable in PA-promoting interventions. Also, the PAS intervention will consist of effective behavioral change techniques (e.g., action planning, teach to use prompts/cues, goal setting, etc.).

Location