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RecruitingPhase 2

Control Systems Engineering for Weight Loss Maintenance

Control Systems Engineering to Address the Problem of Weight Loss Maintenance: A System Identification Experiment to Model Behavioral & Psychosocial Factors Measured by Ecological Momentary Assessment

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Procedures mentioned: Questionnaires

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "Participants losing at least 3% of initial body weight will be followed for an additional 12 months via daily smartphone surveys that incorporates passive sensing to objectively monitor key behaviors."
  • "Survey data pertaining to behavioral, psychosocial, and environmental indicators will be used to develop a controller algorithm that can predict when an individual is entering a heightened period of risk for regain and why risk is elevated."
  • "Survey and passive sensing data documenting the effects of the interventions will likewise drive development of the controller algorithm, allowing it to determine which interventions are most likely to counter risk of regain."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests a way to predict when people may regain lost weight and which types of support may help prevent it. It is for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 50. After a 6-month weight loss program, those who lose at least 3% of their starting weight will be tracked for 12 more months using daily phone surveys and automatic phone tracking.

This project capitalizes on principles of control systems engineering to build a dynamical model that predicts weight change during weight loss maintenance using behavioral, psychosocial, and environmental indicators evaluated in a system identification experiment. A 6-month behavioral obesity treatment will be administered to produce weight loss. Participants losing at least 3% of initial body weight will be followed for an additional 12 months via daily smartphone surveys that incorporates passive sensing to objectively monitor key behaviors. Survey data pertaining to behavioral, psychosocial, and environmental indicators will be used to develop a controller algorithm that can predict when an individual is entering a heightened period of risk for regain and why risk is elevated. Interventions targeting key risk indicators will be randomly administered during the system ID experiment. Survey and passive sensing data documenting the effects of the interventions will likewise drive development of the controller algorithm, allowing it to determine which interventions are most likely to counter risk of regain.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Speak English fluently and read English at a 6th-grade level.
  • Have a BMI of 25 to 50. BMI is a measure based on height and weight.
  • Be able to walk 2 city blocks without stopping.
  • Own a smartphone.

Who can't join

  • Report a heart condition, chest pain during activity or rest, or passing out in the past 12 months.
  • Are in another weight loss program.
  • Take weight loss medicine.
  • Have lost 5% or more of your body weight in the past 6 months.
  • Have been pregnant in the past 6 months.
  • Plan to become pregnant within 18 months of joining.
  • Have a health condition that makes exercise without supervision unsafe.
  • Have a condition that prevents you from following study steps, such as an illness expected to cause death or an untreated serious mental illness.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * English language fluent and literate at the 6th grade level * Body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 50 kg/m-squared * Able to walk 2 city blocks without stopping * Owns a smartphone Exclusion Criteria: * Report of a heart condition, chest pain during periods of activity or rest, or loss of consciousness in the 12 months prior to enrolling. * Currently participating in another weight loss program * Currently taking weight loss medication * Has lost ≥5% of body weight in the 6 months prior to enrolling * Has been pregnant within the 6 months prior to enrolling * Plans to become pregnant within 18 months of enrolling * Any medical condition that would affect the safety of participating in unsupervised physical activity * Any condition that would result in inability to follow the study protocol, including terminal illness and untreated major psychiatric illness

Study sites (1)

RI