Obesity is a risk factor for multiple health problems that has proved markedly difficult to treat. The present study examines the feasibility of weight gain prevention as an alternative method for addressing obesity as a public health problem. Pilot studies have established that normal weight volunteers can be successfully recruited for a weight gain prevention intervention and that a program utilizing a combination of educational and incentive strategies may be effective in preventing weight gain over one year. The present study extends this research by increasing the size and diversity of the sample, increasing the duration of treatment, and experimentally evaluating the individual and combined efficacy of the main intervention components (i.e., education and incentives). A total of 1,200 adults (20-45 years old) will be studied. Eight hundred will be volunteers recruited by newspaper ad who are interested in weight control. These will be randomized to one of four groups in a 2 x 2 design (no-treatment, education, incentives, and education plus incentives). Four hundred additional individuals will be recruited from the community who are not specifically interested in weight control. These will be randomized to either education or no-treatment. The study will be conducted through local health departments and will be evaluated over three years. Outcome measures will include body weight, eating and exercise habits, and various psychosocial variables. The study design provides an opportunity to examine predictors of weight change in volunteer and nonvolunteer samples of non-obese individuals as well as to test the hypothesis that low cost intervention strategies will be successful in reducing expected increases of weight with age in these groups.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK045361-05
Application #
2458787
Study Section
Behavioral Medicine Study Section (BEM)
Program Officer
Yanovski, Susan Z
Project Start
1993-08-01
Project End
1999-07-31
Budget Start
1997-08-01
Budget End
1999-07-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
168559177
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Linde, Jennifer A; Jeffery, Robert W; French, Simone A et al. (2005) Self-weighing in weight gain prevention and weight loss trials. Ann Behav Med 30:210-6
Jeffery, R W; McGuire, M T; French, S A (2002) Prevalence and correlates of large weight gains and losses. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 26:969-72
Crawford, D; Jeffery, R W; French, S A (2000) Can anyone successfully control their weight? Findings of a three year community-based study of men and women. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 24:1107-10
Sherwood, N E; Jeffery, R W; French, S A et al. (2000) Predictors of weight gain in the Pound of Prevention study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 24:395-403
Jeffery, R W; French, S A (1999) Preventing weight gain in adults: the pound of prevention study. Am J Public Health 89:747-51
Falkner, N H; French, S A; Jeffery, R W et al. (1999) Mistreatment due to weight: prevalence and sources of perceived mistreatment in women and men. Obes Res 7:572-6
Crawford, D A; Jeffery, R W; French, S A (1999) Television viewing, physical inactivity and obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 23:437-40
Jeffery, R W; French, S A; Rothman, A J (1999) Stage of change as a predictor of success in weight control in adult women. Health Psychol 18:543-6
French, S A; Jeffery, R W; Sherwood, N E et al. (1999) Prevalence and correlates of binge eating in a nonclinical sample of women enrolled in a weight gain prevention program. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 23:576-85
French, S A; Jeffery, R W; Murray, D (1999) Is dieting good for you?: Prevalence, duration and associated weight and behaviour changes for specific weight loss strategies over four years in US adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 23:320-7

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