Telehealth for Weight Maintenance of African-American Women

描述(由申请者提供)：在过去的40年里，美国的肥胖率急剧上升。尽管研究表明，减肥是可以通过改变生活方式来实现的，但在超过六个月的时间里保持减肥仍然是一个挑战。这项研究将探讨远程保健计划维持体重的可行性。远程保健是提供与健康相关的服务，通过创新地使用技术来促进健康行为，而不需要出差。远程医疗计划将在家中通过支持互联网的电视机进行访问。远程保健计划包括三个组成部分：(1)每周讨论问题解决和复发预防战略的视频节目，并包括励志故事；(2)定期更新视频锻炼计划；以及(3)与其他研究参与者和运动和营养专家进行在线交流。随机对照试验将确定体重维持远程保健计划的可行性和可接受性。这项研究的参与者将是非洲裔美国女性，因为她们肥胖率更高，相关慢性病(如糖尿病)的风险也不成比例。两个教堂将与伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校合作，帮助满足参与者的社会、精神和文化需求。100名女性将被招募参加为期一年的试验。这项研究包括减肥阶段(阶段1)和体重保持阶段(阶段2)。在第一阶段，所有参与者将参加在参与教会举行的为期12周的减肥计划。在这项计划完成后，一个教会将被指定为干预组，另一个教会将被指定为对照组。在第二阶段，干预组的参与者将接受每月的电话咨询，外加远程保健计划，而对照组将只接受每月的电话咨询。这项研究的具体目的包括：(1)评估远程保健计划对体重指数变化的影响；(2)评估远程保健计划对身体活动和脂肪、纤维、水果和蔬菜摄入量的影响。如果远程健康计划被证明是一种可行的体重维持方法，那么这种技术的使用可能有助于减轻非裔美国人中肥胖及其相关慢性健康问题的负担。然后，有必要进行另一项研究，以确定该技术对公众健康的最终影响，并进一步考虑保持体重的成本和长期有效性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Rates of obesity in the United States have increased dramatically over the past four decades. Although research studies have demonstrated that weight loss is achievable through lifestyle modifications, the maintenance of weight reduction beyond six months remains a challenge. This study will examine the feasibility of a telehealth program for weight maintenance. Telehealth is the delivery of health related services to promote healthy behaviors through the innovative use of technology, without the need for travel. The telehealth program will be accessible at home through Internet-enabled television sets. The telehealth program includes three components: (1) weekly video programs that discuss problem solving and relapse prevention strategies and include motivational stories; (2) regularly updated video exercise programs; and (3) online communication with other study participants and an exercise and nutrition specialist. A randomized controlled trial will determine the feasibility and acceptability of the weight maintenance telehealth program. The study participants will be African-American women, as they have a higher prevalence of obesity with a disproportionate risk of related chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes). Two churches will collaborate with the University of Illinois at Chicago and assist in meeting the social, spiritual, and cultural needs of the participants. One hundred women will be recruited to participate in a one-year trial. The study includes a weight loss phase (Phase 1), and a weight maintenance phase (Phase 2). During Phase 1, all participants will attend a 12-week weight loss program held in the participating churches. Following completion of this program, one church will be assigned to be the intervention group, and the other church will be the comparison group. During Phase 2, participants in the intervention group will receive monthly telephone counseling plus access to the telehealth program, while the comparison group will only receive monthly telephone counseling. The specific aims of the study include: (1) to evaluate the effect of the telehealth program on change in body mass index; and (2) to evaluate the effect of the telehealth program on physical activity and fat, fiber, fruit and vegetable intake. If the telehealth program is shown to be a feasible approach to weight maintenance, then this use of technology may help reduce the burden of obesity and its related chronic health conditions among African- Americans. An additional study would then be necessary to determine the ultimate public health impact of the technology, with further consideration given to cost and long-term effectiveness in weight maintenance.