Telehealth for Weight Maintenance of African-American Women

描述（由申请人提供）：在过去的四十年里，美国的肥胖率急剧增加。虽然研究表明，通过改变生活方式可以实现减肥，但保持减肥超过六个月仍然是一个挑战。这项研究将探讨远程保健计划的可行性体重维持。远程保健是提供与健康有关的服务，通过创新使用技术促进健康行为，而无需旅行。远程保健方案将在家里通过互联网电视机提供。远程医疗计划包括三个组成部分：（1）每周视频节目，讨论解决问题和复发预防策略，包括激励故事;（2）定期更新视频锻炼计划;（3）与其他研究参与者和运动和营养专家在线交流。一项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。研究参与者将是非洲裔美国妇女，因为她们肥胖的患病率较高，患相关慢性疾病的风险不成比例（例如，糖尿病）。两个教会将与伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校合作，并协助满足参与者的社会，精神和文化需求。将招募100名妇女参加为期一年的试验。该研究包括体重减轻阶段（第1阶段）和体重维持阶段（第2阶段）。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。在这个计划完成后，一个教会将被分配为干预组，另一个教会将被分配为比较组。在第二阶段，干预组的参与者将每月接受电话咨询，并参加远程保健计划，而对照组只接受每月电话咨询。研究的具体目的包括：（1）评估远程保健方案对体重指数变化的影响;（2）评估远程保健方案对身体活动和脂肪、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肥胖及其相关慢性健康状况的负担。因此，有必要进行一项额外的研究，以确定该技术对公众健康的最终影响，并进一步考虑到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.