Telehealth for Weight Maintenance of African-American Women

描述（由申请人提供）：在过去的四十年里，美国的肥胖率急剧上升。虽然研究表明，通过改变生活方式可以实现减肥，但维持六个月以上的减肥效果仍然是一个挑战。本研究将探讨体重维持之远程医疗计划之可行性。远程保健是在不需要旅行的情况下，通过创新地使用技术，提供与健康有关的服务，以促进健康行为。远程保健计划将在家中通过支持互联网的电视机进行访问。远程医疗方案包括三个组成部分：(1)每周视频节目，讨论解决问题和预防复发的策略，并包括激励故事；(2)定期更新视频锻炼节目；(3)与其他研究参与者以及运动和营养专家进行在线交流。一项随机对照试验将确定体重维持远程医疗计划的可行性和可接受性。该研究的参与者将是非洲裔美国妇女，因为她们的肥胖患病率较高，患相关慢性疾病（如糖尿病）的风险不成比例。两个教堂将与伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校合作，协助满足参与者的社会、精神和文化需求。将招募100名女性参加为期一年的试验。研究包括减重阶段（第一阶段）和维持体重阶段（第二阶段）。在第一阶段，所有参与者都将参加在参与教会举办的为期12周的减肥计划。在这个项目完成后，一个教会将被分配为干预组，另一个教会将被分配为对照组。在第二阶段，干预组的参与者将接受每月一次的电话咨询以及远程医疗计划，而对照组只接受每月一次的电话咨询。本研究的具体目的包括：(1)评估远程医疗计划对体质指数变化的影响；(2)评价远程医疗项目对体育活动和脂肪、纤维、水果、蔬菜摄入量的影响。如果远程医疗计划被证明是维持体重的可行方法，那么这种技术的使用可能有助于减轻非裔美国人的肥胖负担及其相关的慢性健康状况。因此，有必要进行额外的研究，以确定该技术对公众健康的最终影响，并进一步考虑维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.