A systematic review of behavioural techniques used in nutrition and weight loss interventions among adults with mobility-impairing neurological and musculoskeletal conditions

Behavioral weight loss interventions for people with physical disabilities: A systematic review

AIM

The aim of this study is to examine which interventions lead to clinically significant weight loss among people with physical disabilities.

METHODS

We systematically searched three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and CENTRAL) including studies until May 2022 to find randomized controlled trials on behavioral interventions and weight-related outcomes in people with physical disabilities. Pharmacological or surgical interventions were excluded. Study quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Interventions were grouped as dietary, physical activity, education/coaching, or multi-component. Mean weight changes, standard deviations, confidence intervals, and effect sizes were extracted or calculated for assessment of the intervention effect.

RESULTS

Sixty studies involving 6,511 participants were included in the qualitative synthesis. Most studies (n = 32) included multi-component interventions, incorporating dietary and physical activity components. Limited evidence suggests that extensive dietary interventions or long-term multi-component interventions might lead to a clinically relevant weight reduction of at least 5% for older individuals (age > 50) with mild-to-moderate mobility impairments.

DISCUSSION

Due to the high heterogeneity of studies and low study quality, it can be assumed that the range of applicability of the findings is questionable. Further research should examine younger age groups (i.e., children, adolescents, and adults under 40 years) and compare different settings such as schools, clinics, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.

A collaborative approach to designing an online nutrition education program for people with multiple sclerosis

PURPOSE

People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) want disease-specific dietary advice to reduce the confusion around diet. This study used co-design principles to develop an online nutrition education program for pwMS.

METHODS

Mixed-methods (multiphase sequential design). Phase 1: online survey (n = 114 pwMS) to explore preferred content and characteristics of a nutrition program and develop a draft program. Phase 2: feedback on the draft program from stakeholders (two meetings; n = 10 pwMS and multiple sclerosis (MS) health professionals) and pwMS (two workshops; n = 6) to produce a full program prototype. Phase 3: cognitive interviews (n = 8 pwMS plus 1 spouse) to explore acceptability and ease of comprehension of one module of the program, analysed using deductive content analysis.

RESULTS

Preferred topics were included in the program, which were further developed with consumer feedback. Cognitive interviews produced four themes: (1) positive and targeted messaging to motivate behaviour change; (2) "not enough evidence" is not good enough; (3) expert advice builds in credibility; and (4) engaging and appropriate online design elements are crucial.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive language appears to improve motivation to make healthy dietary changes and engagement with evidence-based nutrition resources. To ensure acceptability, health professionals can use co-design to engage consumers when developing resources for pwMS.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONCo-designed nutrition education programs can help people achieve high-quality diets in line with recommendations, but very few programs exist for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and none were co-designedThe participatory research in this study was instrumental in ensuring that important information regarding program acceptability was identifiedCo-design can ensure that the language is appropriate for the target audience, and positive language appeared to improve motivation in people with MS to engage with the online nutrition education programWhere practical and feasible, health professionals should collaborate with MS consumers when developing resources, and use positive, empowering language.

A Comprehensive Review of Phytonutrients as a Dietary Therapy for Obesity

Obesity is a complex medical condition mainly caused by eating habits, genetics, lifestyle, and medicine. The present study deals with traditional diets like the Mediterranean diet, Nordic diet, African Heritage diet, Asian diet, and DASH, as these are considered to be sustainable diets for curing obesity. However, the bioavailability of phytonutrients consumed in the diet may vary, depending on several factors such as digestion and absorption of phytonutrients, interaction with other substances, cooking processes, and individual differences. Hence, several phytochemicals, like polyphenols, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, etc., have been investigated to assess their efficiencies and safety in the prevention and treatment of obesity. These phytochemicals have anti-obesity effects, mediated via modulation of many pathways, such as decreased lipogenesis, lipid absorption, accelerated lipolysis, energy intake, expenditure, and preadipocyte differentiation and proliferation. Owing to these anti-obesity effects, new food formulations incorporating these phytonutrients were introduced that can be beneficial in reducing the prevalence of obesity and promoting public health.

Tools for Nutrition Assessment of Adults with Cerebral Palsy: Development of a Gold Standard

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders caused by non-stabilized cerebral lesions. Individuals with this disorder are at a higher risk of suffering from malnutrition and other related detrimental effects to their quality of life. For this reason, accurate methods of nutritional assessment are vital for people suffering from this condition. While assessment of nutritional status in children with CP has been extensively studied, very few studies have been carried out on adults. These limitations are due to the great anatomical-functional variability characteristic of this syndrome. Difficulties that derive from this variability in adult patients with CP mean that there remains an urgent need for certain standards of nutritional assessment for this population. The objective of this review is to compile the latest trends in nutritional assessment in adults with CP to guide the development of a conceptual framework for future research.

RECENT FINDINGS

With this aim, relevant studies have been identified. The most commonly used technique to evaluate nutritional status is the BMI because of its ease-of-use. However, its well-known limitations fail to adequately estimate the nutritional status in this population, with measurements of patients with CP yielding results that are much less accurate than those that already exist in the general population. Although more studies are needed, kinanthropometry is considered one of the most reliable techniques; nevertheless, the anatomical limitation characteristic of CP plays a limiting factor.

Effect of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery on the Clinical Course of Multiple Sclerosis in Patients with Severe Obesity: a Systematic Review

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory condition affecting the central nervous system (CNS). A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was performed to explore the effect of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) on the clinical course and outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis. Eleven articles examining 394 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean MS duration at the time of surgery was 7.6 ± 4.6 years, and the mean postoperative follow-up was 35.5 ± 5.3 months. MBS leads to the same weight loss with the same complication rate as in patients without MS. Most of patients experienced improvement in clinical course of MS after MBS, compared to non-surgical group. However, there is a risk for MS exacerbation in a number of patients after MBS; they should not be disadvantaged from having MBS, since surgery leads to the same weight loss outcomes with the same complication rate as in patients without MS.

Overweight and obesity management in musculo-skeletal primary care: a survey of Australian health practitioners exploring ‘the elephant in the room&#x2019

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity has a bi-directional association with the growing burden of musculoskeletal (MSk) dysfunction and pain. It seems inevitable that MSk practitioners will see increasing numbers of patients who are overweight and or obese and require this to be addressed as part of their management. Little evidence exists to describe the engagement of patients and their MSk practitioner in weight management as an adjunct or direct component of their intervention or therapy.

METHODS

A self-administered electronic survey was constructed with 13 items to collect self-reported data from Australian practitioners who have a focus on MSk management. The target group was from a multidisciplinary MSk network of 350 members.

RESULTS

A total of 204 completed surveys were analysed from respondents working in one of seven MSk- related professions. It was found that 70% of patients/clients seen by respondents were overweight or obese and that <18% of these patients had weight management included as part of their treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Sixty percent of the respondents in this survey indicated that they do not include weight management as part of their practice despite 70% of their patients/clients being overweight and or obese. With the exception of Medical Practitioners and Exercise Physiologists, in this survey, the other therapists including Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, indicated that they lacked confidence, knowledge and methods to engage a systematic approach to weight management with their patients/clients.

Nutrition Education Programs for Adults with Neurological Diseases Are Lacking: A Scoping Review

The nutrition recommendation for most common neurological diseases is to follow national dietary guidelines. This is to mitigate malnutrition, reduce the risk of diet-related diseases, and to help manage some common symptoms, including constipation. Nutrition education programs can support people in adhering to guidelines; hence the aim of this scoping review was to explore what programs have been implemented for adults with neurological diseases. We conducted this review according to a published a priori protocol. From 2555 articles screened, 13 were included (dementia n = 6; multiple sclerosis n = 4; stroke survivors n = 2; Parkinson’s n = 1). There were no programs for epilepsy, Huntington’s, and motor neurone disease. Program duration and number of sessions varied widely; however, weekly delivery was most common. Just over half were delivered by dietitians. Most did not report using a behavior change theory. Commonly used behavior change techniques were instruction on how to perform a behavior, credible source, and behavioral practice/rehearsal. Evidence of nutrition education programs for adults with neurological diseases is lacking. Of those that are published, many do not meet best practice principles for nutrition education regarding delivery, educator characteristics, and evaluation. More programs aligning with best practice principles are needed to assess characteristics that lead to behavior change.

Randomized controlled trial of SystemCHANGE™ weight management intervention in neurological conditions

OBJECTIVE

This randomized controlled pilot study examined the feasibility and efficacy of a SystemCHANGE™ (SC) weight management intervention in adults with either multiple sclerosis or stroke.

METHODS

Participants (n = 61) were randomized into two interventions: SC, which taught skills to modify personal environments, or active-control (AC), which taught health behavior guidelines. Sessions were held weekly for 12 weeks. Feasibility measures included recruitment and attrition rates. The primary outcome of body weight and secondary outcomes of emotional well-being and healthy behaviors were measured before and after the interventions.

RESULTS

Average recruitment rate was 3.6 participants per month. Attrition rate was 14.8%. On average, 9.1 sessions were completed for SC and 10.7 for AC. Differences in weight loss were non-significant between interventions (P = 0.182), but significantly declined across both interventions (P = 0.011). Physical activity (P = 0.002), depression (P < 0.001), anxiety (P = 0.023), and self-efficacy (P = 0.022) all significantly improved for SC compared to AC.

CONCLUSIONS

SC was feasible to implement and efficacious in improving secondary outcomes of emotional well-being and healthy behaviors, but was not efficacious in improving the primary outcome of weight loss. More research is needed to optimize SC.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

SC might be an alternative approach to cognitive-behavioral therapy for promoting emotional well-being and healthy behaviors.

Effectiveness of behaviour change techniques in physiotherapy interventions to promote physical activity adherence in lower limb osteoarthritis patients: A systematic review

Background

Lower limb osteoarthritis (OA) causes high levels of individual pain and disability and is an increasing socio-economic burden to global healthcare systems. Physical Activity interventions are commonly provided by physiotherapists to help patients with lower limb OA manage their clinical symptoms.

Objective

To identify and evaluate the effectiveness of behavioural change techniques (BCTs) within physiotherapy interventions to increase physical activity (PA) adherence in patients with lower limb OA.

Design

A systematic review was conducted, following Cochrane guidelines according to a published and registered protocol (CRD42016039932). Two independent researchers conducted searches, determined eligibility, assessed risk of bias (Cochrane tool), intervention fidelity (NIHBCC checklist), and coded randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for BCTs (V1 taxonomy). BCT effectiveness ratios were calculated and RCT risk of bias and intervention fidelity were summarised narratively.

Data sources

A highly sensitive search strategy was conducted on Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, CINAHL and PEDro and grey literature databases from inception to January 2^nd, 2018. Reference lists of included RCTs and relevant articles were reviewed, and a citation search was conducted using Web of Science.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

RCTs that evaluated the effectiveness of a physiotherapy intervention that incorporated ≥1 BCT that promoted home or community-based PA adherence in patients with lower limb osteoarthritis.

Results

Twenty-four RCTs (n = 2366 participants) of variable risk of bias (RoB) (5 low; 7 moderate; 12 high) and poor intervention reporting from 10 countries were included. Heterogeneity of intervention BCTs and PA adherence outcome measures precluded meta-analysis. Thirty-one distinct BCTs were identified in 31 interventions across RCTs. In general, BCTs demonstrated higher effectiveness ratios for short-term and long-term PA adherence compared with medium-term outcomes. The BCTs ‘behavioural contract’, ‘non-specific reward’, ‘patient-led goal setting’ (behaviour), ‘self-monitoring of behaviour’, and ‘social support (unspecified) demonstrated the highest effectiveness ratios across time points to promote PA adherence.

Conclusions

BCTs demonstrate higher short and long-term than medium-term effectiveness ratios. Further research involving low RoB RCTs incorporating transparently reported interventions with pre-specified BCTs aimed at optimising lower limb OA patient PA adherence is required.

50 Years and older - born with spina bifida: participation, health issues and physical function

Purpose: To study physical function perspectives in persons with spina bifida (SB) aged ≥50 years. In relation to this, we also wanted to survey participation perspectives, health issues and health services usage.Methods: We used predefined fixed questions to interview community-dwelling adults with SB in Norway. Physical function assessments included Timed Up and Go, the Six Minute Walk Test, and BMI was calculated. Descriptive statistics were used, and logistic regression was performed to study variables associated with community walking.Results: Eighteen women and twelve men, twenty-four of them without hydrocephalus, participated in the study. Their mean age was 57.5 years (range 51-76). The majority were well-functioning persons, with 53% employed. However, deterioration in ambulation started at a median age of 40 years in >80% of the participants. Higher odds for being a community walker were found for sacral SB, BMI < 30, and/or being more physical active per week. More than 60% of the study sample used antihypertensive medication, and 43% were obese (BMI ≥ 30). Pain was a commonly perceived health problem. About 50% had been through a comprehensive SB-specific health evaluation in adulthood.Conclusion: The striking results on obesity, hypertension, pain and deterioration in ambulatory function in middle-aged and elderly SB cases call for action. Our findings elucidate the importance of prevention and clinical follow-up throughout the lifespan, even in well-functioning SB cases.Implications for rehabilitationWeight-management and interventions to reduce hypertension are issues that need attention in follow-up and as part of secondary rehabilitation in spina bifida.Early deterioration in ambulatory function and pain in spina bifida are target areas for multidisciplinary secondary rehabilitation, and should adequately focus on maintaining or improving "real-life" functioning performance.Neurogenic bowel and fecal incontinence are important in relation to social participation in ageing spina bifida.Rehabilitation programs and research should take the level of cele and hydrocephalus into account.

To initiate the conversation - Public health nurses' experiences of working with obesity in persons with mobility disability

Aim

Developing a theory explaining how public health nurses accomplish and adapt counselling in lifestyle habits to decrease obesity in people with mobility disability.

Design

Empirical research ‐ qualitative.

Method

Classic grounded theory with face‐to‐face interviews, 2017–2018, using inductive approach to understand public health nurses' intervening experiences with obesity patients.

Results

To initiate the conversation emerged as the main concern meaning having difficulties initiating conversations about obesity with patients. Public health nurses’ facilitators to communicate lifestyle changes emerged as the pattern generating the theory, which consists of the categories; person‐centeredness in the situation, experience and knowledge, strengthening conditions, access to other professionals and prioritization in everyday work.

Conclusions

Public health nurses hesitate to raise topics of obesity in patients with mobility disability. They advocate increased integration with lifestyle changes in everyday work including multi‐professional cooperation. The implication is testing the emerged theory at primary health care centres.

Impact

Obesity is more common in people with mobility disability than in those without. There is a need to understand how public health nurses adapt counselling in lifestyle habits. Public health nurses hesitate to talk about obesity with patients in fear of offending anyone. Public health nurses did not distinguish between patients with or without mobility disability. Several facilitators could be helpful initiating conversation with the patients. Public health nurses need more time and resources to facilitate conversation with patients with mobility disability to counsel lifestyle changes.

The complexity of reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight - the experience from adults with a mobility disability

BACKGROUND

People with a disability affecting their mobility are more likely to be overweight or obese than those without a mobility disability. The guidelines on how to prevent and treat overweight/obese adults in the general population have not been adapted to the needs of people with a mobility disability. A reasonable useful first step in the process of adapting such guidelines is to conduct a qualitative study of the perceived needs of these people.

AIM

The aim was to explore the experienced importance of body weight among adults with a mobility disability and their perceived needs and actions to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

METHOD

This was an explorative qualitative study based on individual interviews and qualitative content analysis. An inductive analysis of the interviews formed the basis for the establishment of sub-categories, main categories and, finally, a main theme. The twenty participants included in the study have had a mobility disability for more than two years before being recruited.

RESULTS

The overall theme, "The complex trajectory to a healthy weight", included four main categories. In the category (i) Vicious circle of problems, the participants perceived that everything was harder with the combination of a mobility disability and being overweight/obese with one factor making the other worse. In (ii) Strategies based on decisions and attempts, the participants talked about different ways of attempting to reach or maintain a healthy weight. In (iii) Internal resources, they spoke of awareness and motivation as contributory factors. In (iv) External resources - experienced and required, they spoke about feelings that their weight problems were not given high priority in primary health care. They found it difficult to get advice designed for persons with a mobility disability and felt that competence was lacking among health professionals. The participants asked for a team of professionals with adequate knowledge concerning mobility disabilities.

CONCLUSIONS

People with a mobility disability combined with being overweight/obese have a complex living situation and health needs. The experiences communicated by participants may facilitate adaption of existing intervention programs or development of a new evidence-based obesity prevention program for primary health care settings.

Reducing barriers to healthy weight: Planned and responsive adaptations to a lifestyle intervention to serve people with impaired mobility

BACKGROUND

People with impaired mobility (IM) disabilities have a higher prevalence of obesity and obesity-related chronic conditions; however, lifestyle interventions that address the unique needs of people with IM are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

This paper describes an adapted evidence-based lifestyle intervention developed through community-based participatory research (CBPR).

METHODS

Individuals with IM, health professionals, disability group representatives, and researchers formed an advisory board to guide the process of thoroughly adapting the Diabetes Prevention Program Group Lifestyle Balance (DPP GLB) intervention after a successful pilot in people with IM. The process involved two phases: 1) planned adaptations to DPP GLB content and delivery, and 2) responsive adaptations to address issues that emerged during intervention delivery.

RESULTS

Planned adaptations included combining in-person sessions with conference calls, providing arm-based activity trackers, and adding content on adaptive cooking, adaptive physical activity, injury prevention, unique health considerations, self-advocacy, and caregiver support. During the intervention, participants encountered numerous barriers, including health and mental health issues, transportation, caregivers, employment, adjusting to disability, and functional limitations. We addressed barriers with responsive adaptations, such as supporting electronic self-monitoring, offering make up sessions, and adding content and activities on goal setting, problem solving, planning, peer support, reflection, and motivation.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the lack of evidence on lifestyle change in people with disabilities, it is critical to involve the community in intervention planning and respond to real-time barriers as participants engage in change. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is underway to examine the usability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of the adapted intervention.

Depressive Symptoms in Bariatric Surgery Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery has been shown to be a safe and effective intervention for patients with comorbid obesity and multiple sclerosis (MS); however, this sub-population may be at heightened risk for pre- and postoperative depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

This current exploratory study aims to describe the prevalence and nature of depressive symptoms in a sample of patients with MS who undergo bariatric surgery.

METHODS

Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who received bariatric surgery and had a diagnosis of MS (n = 31) and a control sample of non-surgical MS patients with severe obesity (n = 828). Longitudinal outcome measures included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Multiple Sclerosis Performance Scale (MSPS).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in PHQ-9 total and item scores between groups at baseline. PHQ-9 scores significantly improved at years 1 (p < 0.01) and 2 (p = 0.03) post-bariatric surgery when compared to non-surgical controls. Higher BMI (p = 0.03) and worse overall quality of life (p < 0.01) were associated with worsening of PHQ-9 scores in the bariatric group. When compared to controls, the bariatric group demonstrated improved MSPS scores on a trend level 1 year post-surgery (p = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent with the literature on more general bariatric surgery populations, current findings highlight the possible early benefits of bariatric surgery for reducing depressive symptoms in this population when compared to controls. Importantly, results should be viewed as preliminary and additional research is needed to examine bariatric surgery and associations with depressive symptoms and performance in the MS population.

Effectiveness of behavioural change techniques in physiotherapy interventions to promote physical activity adherence in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative articular disease, the highest cause of individual level disability and a significant socioeconomic burden to healthcare services. Patient education and physical activity (PA) prescription are recommended components of interventions in several healthcare guidelines and are commonly provided by physiotherapists. However, these interventions lack long-term clinical effectiveness. Patient adherence to PA prescription requires patients to modify their PA behaviour and appears critical in maintaining symptomatic improvements. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioural change techniques (BCTs) used in physiotherapy interventions to improve PA adherence.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Medline, Cochrane and PEDro registers of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycInfo databases, and key grey literature sources will be rigorously searched for randomised controlled trials that compared a physiotherapy intervention incorporating BCTs with other therapies, placebo interventions, usual care or no-treatment. Two independent researchers will conduct literature searches, assess trial eligibility, extract data, conduct risk of bias assessment (using Cochrane risk of bias tool), classify BCTs and evaluate the quality of the body of literature following Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. Narrative synthesis of key outcomes will be presented and meta-analysis will be performed if included trials are clinically homogenous, based on their intervention and comparator groups and outcome measures. This review will be reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis guidelines.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Research ethics approval is not required. This review will help inform clinicians and researchers on the most effective behavioural change techniques used in physiotherapy interventions to enhance adherence to PA prescription for patients with lower limb OA. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42016039932.

A Qualitative Study of Multiple Health Behaviors in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Evidence regarding inflammatory pathways, elevated cardiovascular risk, and negative effects of secondary conditions on disability progression provide a strong rationale for promoting multiple health behaviors in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, many unanswered questions remain about the best ways to design multiple behavior change interventions for adults with MS. We sought to identify facilitators and barriers to engaging in multiple health behaviors (physical activity, nutrition, and sleep) and to gain further insights into how to develop multiple health behavior change interventions based on preferences of adults with MS. Methods: Focus groups and one-on-one interviews were conducted with 17 participants with MS. Results: Five qualitative themes were identified as either facilitating or hindering engagement in multiple health behaviors: 1) roles, priorities, and preferences; 2) sense of duty; 3) the fatigue and mobility problem; 4) taking control; and 5) resiliency. Participants identified advantages and disadvantages of delivery formats (eg, face-to-face group vs. telephone), frequency of contacts, and intervention strategies based on their individual circumstances and obligations. Participants felt that discussing the benefits of engaging in multiple health behaviors, developing action plans, accommodating preferences, and addressing health problems would be helpful strategies to include in a multiple behavior change intervention. Conclusions: These findings indicate that there may be common facilitators and barriers that can be targeted to promote multiple behavior changes. Future research should explore the best ways to tailor multiple behavior change interventions to preferences, symptoms, psychological traits, and social cognitions.

Accessible weight loss: Adapting a lifestyle intervention for adults with impaired mobility

BACKGROUND

Despite disparities in obesity between those with and without disability, there is limited evidence to guide weight loss intervention in people with impaired mobility (IM), particularly those with severe impairments.

OBJECTIVE

Examine the usability, feasibility, and effectiveness of adapting an existing evidence-based weight loss program for people with IM.

METHODS

In this single-group pre-test post-test pilot study, 10 overweight or obese individuals with permanent IM (e.g. spinal cord injury, spina bifida, osteoarthritis) participated in a 20-week modification of the DPP Group Lifestyle Balance™ (DPP GLB) program, a group-based adaptation of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). Fifteen conference calls encouraged reducing calorie and fat intake and increasing exercise through self-monitoring and problem solving. We defined feasibility as retention and engagement, usability as participants' program satisfaction ratings, and effectiveness as physiological and psychosocial change measured on three occasions over 20 weeks. Analytic methods included basic descriptive statistics (feasibility and usability) and repeated measures ANOVA (effectiveness).

RESULTS

The program retained 70% of participants. These individuals attended an average of 79.3% of conference calls and self-monitored more than half of the weeks. Participants rated the program highly, with mean overall scores of 6.3 ± 0.3 and 6.2 ± 0.6 out of 7 on helpfulness and satisfaction scales, respectively. Program completers experienced a significant mean weight loss of 8.86 ± 8.37 kg (p = 0.024), or 7.4% of their start weight, and significantly reduced their BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

An adapted version of the DPP GLB is a feasible, usable, and potentially effective intervention for promoting weight loss among persons with IM.