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Choosing Healthy Options in College Environments and Settings

Evaluating Innovative Weight Reduction Strategies for College Students

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01134783
Acronym
CHOICES
Enrollment
441
Registered
2010-06-02
Start date
2011-03-31
Completion date
2014-05-31
Last updated
2016-06-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Obesity

Brief summary

Examine the effectiveness of a weight gain prevention intervention to positively affect body mass index in 2-year college students

Detailed description

The goal of this research is to develop and test innovative strategies to help prevent unhealthy weight gain in college students attending 2-year community or technical colleges. The intervention we propose for Phase 2, and will refine through our formative experiences in Phase 1, will be based on social ecological and social networks models with students randomized to conditions. Students (n=440) with BMIs between 20.0 and 34.9 will be recruited to participate in an intervention trial that lasts 24 months. After the initial screening and consent procedures, students will complete baseline measures that include: assessment of body composition; blood pressure and a blood draw; a behavioral and psychosocial survey; medical and weight history and two 24-hour online dietary recalls. After the completion of baseline assessments, students will be randomized into treatment or control conditions. Students randomized into the intervention condition will participate in a 1-credit course offered through their 2-year college that focuses on eating, activity, sleep and stress management as ways to help maintain or achieve a healthy weight; three course sections will be offered to accommodate students' scheduling needs and learning preferences. A web-based social network and support component will be introduced as part of this course and will continue as the intervention channel for 20 months following the 1-credit course. This supported intervention phase will use a study-designed website to reinforce, inform and encourage exchange and support between all intervention participants. Students will be asked to track their weight and weight-control behaviors on the website and intervention staff will interact with participants electronically or through phone calls offering encouragement and helping with problem solving. Control students will receive their health assessments and usual care including existing public health information on maintaining a healthy weight and information regarding health services offered on their school's campus. The effectiveness and sustainability of the intervention approaches will be evaluated. The primary aim is to examine the effectiveness of a 24-month weight gain prevention intervention to positively affect BMI in 2-year college students. Our hypothesis is that students randomized to an intervention condition will experience a smaller increase in mean BMI post treatment, as compared to students randomized to the control condition. The secondary aims of this study are to: 1) Examine the effectiveness of a weight gain prevention intervention to positively affect weight in 2-year college students' and 2) compare the effects of the intervention and control groups with regard to change in BMI and weight from baseline to four months and from baseline to 12 months.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCHOICES Intervention

Academic course on healthy weight behaviors followed by participation in a social networking and social support website.

Sponsors

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
CollaboratorNIH
University of Minnesota
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18-35 years * Intending to be available for a 24 month intervention

Exclusion criteria

* Unable to provide informed consent * BMI \< 18.5 kg/m2, \>/=35 kg/m2 * Household member on study staff * Past or planned (within the next 24 months) weight loss surgery (e.g. gastric bypass, lap band, or liposuction); current participation in a commercial weight loss program (e.g. Weight Watcher's, Jenny Craig); current or planned enrollment in another diet/physical activity/weight loss intervention study * Regular use of systemic steroids, prescription weight loss drugs, and/or diabetes medications (oral or injected). Regular use is defined as taking this medication most days of the week for the previous month * Current treatment for an eating disorder * Cardiovascular event (heart attack, stroke, episode of heart failure, or revascularization procedure) within the last 6 months * Current treatment for malignancy (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) * Investigator discretion * Currently pregnant or gave birth within the last 6 months, currently lactating or breastfeeding within the last 3 months, actively planning pregnancy within the next 24 months. * Systolic BP at screening \>/= 160 mmHg or diastolic BP \>/= 100 mmHg. If BP exceeds this level, participants can return for re-screening after being evaluated and treated for hypertension. * Weight loss of more than 15 lbs over the past three months * Trying to gain weight.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Body Mass Index (BMI)Baseline to 24 MonthsThe primary aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a 24-month weight gain prevention intervention to positively affect body mass index (BMI) in 2-year college students. Our hypothesis is that students randomized to an intervention condition will experience a smaller increase in mean BMI post treatment as compared to students randomized to the control condition.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Prevalence of Overweight/ObeseBaseline to 24 MonthsThe prevalence of overweight/obese between intervention and control students
Change in BMI From Baseline to 4 MonthsBaseline to 4 MonthsComparison of the effects of the intervention and control groups with regard to change in BMI from baseline to 4 months
Change in Weight From Baseline to 4 MonthsBaseline to 4 MonthsComparison of the effects of the intervention and control groups with regard to change in weight from baseline to 4 months
Change in BMI From Baseline to 12 MonthsBaseline to 12 MonthsComparison of the effects of the intervention and control groups with regard to change in BMI from baseline to 12 months
Change in Weight From Baseline to 12 MonthsBaseline to 12 MonthsComparison of the effects of the intervention and control groups with regard to change in weight from baseline to 12 months

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Control Group
This control group arm consists of students who served as the comparison group.
217
Intervention Group
This intervention arm is a combination of the face-to-face class students, hybrid class students and online class students
224
Total441

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up520
Overall StudyPregnancy168
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject159

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicControl GroupIntervention GroupTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
217 Participants224 Participants441 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
16 Participants17 Participants33 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
201 Participants207 Participants408 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
14 Participants13 Participants27 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
40 Participants28 Participants68 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
12 Participants11 Participants23 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
149 Participants171 Participants320 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
217 participants224 participants441 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
148 Participants150 Participants298 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
69 Participants74 Participants143 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
82 / 22480 / 217
serious
Total, serious adverse events
11 / 22411 / 217

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Body Mass Index (BMI)

The primary aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a 24-month weight gain prevention intervention to positively affect body mass index (BMI) in 2-year college students. Our hypothesis is that students randomized to an intervention condition will experience a smaller increase in mean BMI post treatment as compared to students randomized to the control condition.

Time frame: Baseline to 24 Months

Population: The original study design was 4 arms (1 control \& 3 intervention) that varied in the way the 4-month curriculum was delivered. Our formative work showed that students not being able to choose the course delivery method would limit interest in study participation. We changed the study design to 2 arms, which was approved by the EARLY trials DSMB.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Control GroupChange in Body Mass Index (BMI)26.2 kg/m2Standard Error 0.283
Intervention GroupChange in Body Mass Index (BMI)26.0 kg/m2Standard Error 0.28
p-value: 0.707Regression, Logistic
Secondary

Change in BMI From Baseline to 12 Months

Comparison of the effects of the intervention and control groups with regard to change in BMI from baseline to 12 months

Time frame: Baseline to 12 Months

Population: The original study design was 4 arms (1 control \& 3 intervention) that varied in the way the 4-month curriculum was delivered. Our formative work showed that students not being able to choose the course delivery method would limit interest in study participation. We changed the study design to 2 arms, which was approved by the EARLY trials DSMB.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Control GroupChange in BMI From Baseline to 12 Months25.5 kg/m2Standard Error 0.274
Intervention GroupChange in BMI From Baseline to 12 Months25.7 kg/m2Standard Error 0.276
Secondary

Change in BMI From Baseline to 4 Months

Comparison of the effects of the intervention and control groups with regard to change in BMI from baseline to 4 months

Time frame: Baseline to 4 Months

Population: The original study design was 4 arms (1 control \& 3 intervention) that varied in the way the 4-month curriculum was delivered. Our formative work showed that students not being able to choose the course delivery method would limit interest in study participation. We changed the study design to 2 arms, which was approved by the EARLY trials DSMB.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Control GroupChange in BMI From Baseline to 4 Months25.5 kg/m2Standard Error 0.273
Intervention GroupChange in BMI From Baseline to 4 Months25.6 kg/m2Standard Error 0.274
Secondary

Change in Weight From Baseline to 12 Months

Comparison of the effects of the intervention and control groups with regard to change in weight from baseline to 12 months

Time frame: Baseline to 12 Months

Population: The original study design was 4 arms (1 control \& 3 intervention) that varied in the way the 4-month curriculum was delivered. Our formative work showed that students not being able to choose the course delivery method would limit interest in study participation. We changed the study design to 2 arms, which was approved by the EARLY trials DSMB.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Control GroupChange in Weight From Baseline to 12 Months72.4 KgStandard Error 0.839
Intervention GroupChange in Weight From Baseline to 12 Months73.1 KgStandard Error 0.844
Secondary

Change in Weight From Baseline to 4 Months

Comparison of the effects of the intervention and control groups with regard to change in weight from baseline to 4 months

Time frame: Baseline to 4 Months

Population: The original study design was 4 arms (1 control \& 3 intervention) that varied in the way the 4-month curriculum was delivered. Our formative work showed that students not being able to choose the course delivery method would limit interest in study participation. We changed the study design to 2 arms, which was approved by the EARLY trials DSMB.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Control GroupChange in Weight From Baseline to 4 Months72.3 KgStandard Error 0.834
Intervention GroupChange in Weight From Baseline to 4 Months72.7 KgStandard Error 0.84
Secondary

Prevalence of Overweight/Obese

The prevalence of overweight/obese between intervention and control students

Time frame: Baseline to 24 Months

Population: The original study design was 4 arms (1 control \& 3 intervention) that varied in the way the 4-month curriculum was delivered. Our formative work showed that students not being able to choose the course delivery method would limit interest in study participation. We changed the study design to 2 arms, which was approved by the EARLY trials DSMB.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Control GroupPrevalence of Overweight/Obese46.6 percentage of participants
Intervention GroupPrevalence of Overweight/Obese57.1 percentage of participants
p-value: 0.049Regression, Logistic

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 11, 2026