Microrandomized Trial to Optimize Use of Burden-reducing Self-monitoring Approaches in Behavioral Obesity Treatment
The Miriam Hospital
Summary
This clinical trial is focused on testing dietary self-monitoring strategies used in behavioral obesity treatment. The goal is to determine which self-monitoring strategies are most useful for whom, at which points in treatment, and under what circumstances. Researchers will provide a 24-week online behavioral obesity treatment program, and will randomize participants to use one of 5 dietary self-monitoring strategies every two weeks. The five strategies include: recording all food and drink consumed and corresponding energy intake (i.e., "calories") on 7 days per week; recording all food and drink consumed and corresponding energy intake (i.e., "calories") on 3 days per week; self-monitoring of dietary lapses (i.e. any eating/drinking likely to cause weight gain or put weight loss at risk); smartwatch-based monitoring of energy intake (i.e., "calories"); and self-monitoring of body weight only via smart scale. Participants will: * Follow a 24-week online program for weight loss and health improvement * Use the assigned self-monitoring strategy every two weeks * Meet with the researchers periodically via online video call and provide research data by answering questions via periodic online surveys.
Description
This clinical trial is a 24-week micro-randomized trial (MRT) designed to optimize the use of dietary self-monitoring (SM) strategies during behavioral obesity treatment (BOT). Self-monitoring is considered the cornerstone of BOT because it enables individuals to regulate behaviors that influence energy balance and weight loss. However, adherence to traditional full dietary SM (i.e., recording all food and beverages consumed each day) declines rapidly over time due to its burden, leading to poorer weight loss outcomes. To address this problem, this study evaluates five SM approaches that vary…