Mental contrasting and action plans to help Veterans manage weight in primary care
Official title: WOOP VA: Mental Contrasting With Implementation Intentions to Promote Weight Management in Primary Care
Funded at VA Medical Center · NIH-11308186 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program teaches Veterans brief mental-imagery and if-then action-planning techniques alongside the VA MOVE! program to help with weight loss and sticking to healthy habits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003264-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11308186 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans enrolled in VA primary care who are eligible for the MOVE! weight-management program and want help losing weight.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not enrolled in VA primary care, those unwilling to try behavioral techniques, or those with medical reasons that limit participation in weight-loss programs may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would learn a simple approach called Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII), which uses guided imagery and concrete if-then plans to boost motivation and behavior change, delivered by a lay educator in primary care. MCII is offered together with the VA MOVE! weight-management resources to support eating and activity changes. The project enrolls Veterans in VA primary care, tracks weight and health behaviors over time, and compares outcomes for those who receive MCII plus MOVE! versus usual MOVE! support. The team also measures how easy the approach is to deliver in real-world VA clinics and whether Veterans stick with the program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If it works, this could help more Veterans join and stay in VA weight-management programs and achieve modest weight loss through simple, low-cost techniques.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows MCII can increase activity, healthier eating, and is feasible for Veterans, but it has not yet been proven to cause weight loss when delivered in VA primary care.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Medical Center
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jay, Melanie — VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Jay, Melanie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using mental strategies to help Veterans manage their weight
This study is looking at a new way to help Veterans lose weight and get healthier by using a method called Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions, combined with existing programs, to make weight management easier and more effective with support from friendly educators.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.