Pilot Study of the HWL Program

The Weight Management Center currently offers a remotely delivered (smart phone, tablet,
computer) program to assist patients with maintaining weight losses already achieved, which
includes multi-channel self-monitoring and asynchronous individually recorded feedback from
clinical staff. The goal of the presently proposed project is to build on this existing
maintenance-focused program to create a remotely delivered, standalone behavioral weight loss
intervention designed to help participants initiate the important dietary, physical activity
(PA) and behavioral changes necessary to achieve weight loss. We recently developed the Home
Weight Loss (HWL) program by repackaging existing clinical educational materials as
instructional lifestyle change modules to be delivered remotely for participant weight loss

The aim of the proposed project are to pilot test the effects of the HWL program among a
sample of overweight and obese adults (N=30). The digital platform currently used in the
maintenance program will be used for the HWL program

Inclusion Criteria:

- aged 18-70 years

- BMI = 25.0- 40 kg/m2

- Internet access via desktop or laptop computer

- valid email address

- smart phone ownership

- women of childbearing potential must agree to use effective contraception during the
study

Exclusion Criteria:

- currently dieting (>10-pound weight loss in past 3 months)

- another member of the household is participating in this pilot study

- inability to engage in physical activity

- inability to read and speak English

- diagnosis of diabetes (other than treated by diet alone),

- uncontrolled thyroid condition or other endocrine disorder

- major depressive disorder or other severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar
disorder) within the past two years

- past suicide attempt

- current use of prescription or over-the-counter weight loss medications

- current/planned pregnancy

- drug and/or alcohol abuse

- use of steroid medication for more than 10 days in the past three months *implanted
electronic devices