Using engineering principles to help maintain weight loss
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
This study is testing a new way to help people keep off the weight they lost by using technology to track their habits and give them support when they're at risk of gaining it back.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 180 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The Miriam Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Providence, Rhode Island) |
| Trial ID | NCT06244888 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This project utilizes control systems engineering to create a model that predicts weight changes during weight loss maintenance. Participants will undergo a 6-month behavioral treatment to achieve weight loss, followed by a 12-month monitoring period using daily smartphone surveys and passive sensing to track behaviors. The data collected will inform a controller algorithm designed to identify when individuals are at risk of regaining weight and the factors contributing to this risk. Interventions targeting specific risk indicators will be randomly administered based on the data collected.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with a BMI between 25 and 50 who can walk 2 city blocks and own a smartphone.
Not a fit: Patients with significant heart conditions, those currently on weight loss medications, or individuals who have recently lost a substantial amount of weight may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a personalized method for maintaining weight loss and preventing obesity relapse.
How similar studies have performed: While the application of control systems engineering in weight management is innovative, similar behavioral interventions have shown promise in other studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion 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
Where this trial is running
Providence, Rhode Island
- Miriam Hospital Weight Control and Diabetes Resarch Center — Providence, Rhode Island, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Sharon O'Toole, M.A.T.
- Email: sotoole@lifespan.org
- Phone: 401 793-8992
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.