A Randomized Controlled Trial of Food Is Medicine Approaches for Obesity Treatment in Adults With Food Insecurity
Johns Hopkins University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if increased access to healthy foods, combined with behavioral weight loss (BWL) interventions, results in greater weight loss for adults with obesity and food insecurity. It will also learn about changes in health-quality of life and dietary quality. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does BWL, combined with either home-delivered, medically-tailored (HOME) groceries or grocery vouchers (VOUCHER), result in greater weight loss than BWL alone? * Is the addition of HOME to BWL more effective at supporting adults with food insecurity and obesity to lose weight when compared to BWL and VOUCHER?
Description
Participants will: * Receive 21 sessions of BWL over 52 weeks delivered 1-on-1 with a counselor * Visit the research team for 4 in-person assessments to assess measures like height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, complete dietary assessments, questionnaires and interviews, and evaluate skin carotenoid levels (a non-invasive measure) * Be randomized (like picking numbers from a hat) to BWL-Alone; BWL+VOUCHER; or BWL+HOME. Participants in BWL+VOUCHER will receive grocery store gift cards every 2 weeks for the first 24 weeks of the study. Participants in BWL+HOME will receive groceries delivered…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * BMI\>30 kg/m2 * Screening positive for food insecurity using the well-validated, 10-item US Adult Food Security Survey Module. * Age 18 years and older * Completion of baseline assessments * Ability to engage in physical activity (i.e., can walk at least 2 blocks without stopping for rest) * Willing and able to provide pictures of food receipts to study team (or mail receipts to study team) * Willing and able to provide written informed consent and participate in all study activities * Female participants of child-bearing potential must agree in writing to use an approve…
Interventions
- BehavioralBWL
Participants will receive a lifestyle modification program consisting of behavioral, physical activity, and dietary counseling delivered over 21, approximately 15 minute sessions delivered by trained interventionists. Sessions will be weekly during weeks 0-4, every other week during weeks 6-24, monthly during weeks 25-52. Treatment will be delivered remotely.
- OtherVOUCHER
During the initial 24 weeks, participants randomized to this group will receive the BWL program along with food vouchers distributed in the form of grocery store gift cards. Gift cards worth $60 will be emailed to participants every 2 weeks after their BWL session. From weeks 24-52, participants will continue to have monthly counseling sessions.
- OtherHOME
During the initial 24 weeks, participants assigned to this group will receive home-delivered, medically tailored groceries alongside BWL. The contents of each box will be approximately $60 ($30/week) and sent using Instacart. From weeks 24-52, participants will continue to have monthly counseling sessions.
Location
- Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, Maryland