Weight loss intervention for young adults using mobile technology: design and rationale of a randomized controlled trial - Cell Phone Intervention for You (CITY).
BACKGROUND
The obesity epidemic has spread to young adults, leading to significant public health implications later in adulthood. Intervention in early adulthood may be an effective public health strategy for reducing the long-term health impact of the epidemic. Few weight loss trials have been conducted in young adults. It is unclear what weight loss strategies are beneficial in this population.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the design and rationale of the NHLBI-sponsored Cell Phone Intervention for You (CITY) study, which is a single center, randomized three-arm trial that compares the impact on weight loss of 1) a behavioral intervention that is delivered almost entirely via cell phone technology (Cell Phone group); and 2) a behavioral intervention delivered mainly through monthly personal coaching calls enhanced by self-monitoring via cell phone (Personal Coaching group), each compared to 3) a usual care, advice-only control condition.


METHODS
A total of 365 community-dwelling overweight/obese adults aged 18-35 years were randomized to receive one of these three interventions for 24 months in parallel group design. Study personnel assessing outcomes were blinded to group assignment. The primary outcome is weight change at 24 [corrected] months. We hypothesize that each active intervention will cause more weight loss than the usual care condition. Study completion is anticipated in 2014.


CONCLUSIONS
If effective, implementation of the CITY interventions could mitigate the alarming rates of obesity in young adults through promotion of weight loss. ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT01092364.
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3921 Durham, NC 27710, USA; Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: bryan.batch@duke.edu.
Bryan C
BC
Batch
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 103105, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: crystal.simpson@duke.edu.
Crystal
C
Tyson
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: jacqueline.bagwell@fuqua.duke.edu.
Jacqueline
J
Bagwell
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3921 Durham, NC 27710, USA; Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: leonor.corsinonunez@dm.duke.edu.
Leonor
L
Corsino
College of Computer and Information Science, Northeastern University, 202 West Village H, Office 450, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, 202 West Village H, Office 450, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: S.Intille@neu.edu.
Stephen
S
Intille
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: pao.hwa.lin@dm.duke.edu.
Pao-Hwa
PH
Lin
College of Computer and Information Science, Northeastern University, 202 West Village H, Office 450, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, 202 West Village H, Office 450, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: tlazenka@gmail.com.
Tony
T
Lazenka
Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University Medical Center, Box 90086, 417 Chapel Drive, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0086, USA; Duke Obesity Prevention Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University Medical Center, 310 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: gary.bennett@duke.edu.
Gary
G
Bennett
Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3240, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, 2301 Erwin Road 27710 Durham, NC, USA; Duke University School of Nursing, 307 Trent Drive, DUMC 3322, 27710, Durham, NC, USA. Electronic address: hayden.bosworth@duke.edu.
Hayden B
HB
Bosworth
Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3240, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: corrine.voils@duke.edu.
Corrine
C
Voils
Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2721, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: steven.grambow@duke.edu.
Steven
S
Grambow
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: aziza.sutton@duke.edu.
Aziza
A
Sutton
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: rachel.bordogna@gmail.com.
Rachel
R
Bordogna
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: matthew.pangborn@duke.edu.
Matthew
M
Pangborn
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: jennifer.schwager@duke.edu.
Jenifer
J
Schwager
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: kate.pilewski@duke.edu.
Kate
K
Pilewski
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: cdscaccia@gmail.com.
Carla
C
Caccia
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: jasmine.burroughs@duke.edu.
Jasmine
J
Burroughs
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, 3475 Erwin Road, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 103105, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: laura.svetkey@duke.edu.
Laura P
LP
Svetkey
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D040421:Cell Phone; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
Behavioral intervention; Mobile health; Obesity; Technology; Weight loss; Young adult