title: Dissemination of the Look AHEAD intensive lifestyle intervention in the United States Air Force: study rationale, design and methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite an increase in overweight and obesity similar to the civilian population, there have been few randomized controlled trials examining behavioral weight management interventions in the military settings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper describes the design, intervention development and analysis plan of the Fit Blue study, a randomized controlled behavioral weight loss trial taking place in the United States Air Force.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study compares two adapted versions of the efficacious Look AHEAD Intensive Lifestyle Intervention (ILI), a counselor-initiated condition and a self-paced condition. Also described are the unique steps required when conducting military-based health promotion research and adaptations made to the Look AHEAD intervention to accommodate the military environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first translation of the Look AHEAD ILI in the military setting and one of the first translations of the ILI in general. If successful, this intervention could be disseminated to the entire U.S. Military as this project is designed to overcome the barriers and utilize the facilitators for weight loss that are unique to a military population. Programs validated in military populations can have a major public health impact given that with 1.4 million active duty personnel, the Department of Defense is the nation's largest employer. However, while this intervention is designed for a military population and there are unique aspects of the military that may enhance weight loss interventions, the diversity of the study population should help inform obesity efforts in both civilian and military settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 N. Pauline St., Memphis, TN 38105, United States. Electronic address: rkrukows@uthsc.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Krukowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 N. Pauline St., Memphis, TN 38105, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 50 N. Dunlap, Memphis, TN 38105, United States.
authors.forename: Marion E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hare
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 59MDW/SGOWMP/2200 Bergquist Dr., STE 1, Lackland AFB, TX 78236, United States.
authors.forename: Gerald W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Talcott
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 N. Pauline St., Memphis, TN 38105, United States.
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 N. Pauline St., Memphis, TN 38105, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 50 N. Dunlap, Memphis, TN 38105, United States.
authors.forename: Phyllis A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Richey
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 N. Pauline St., Memphis, TN 38105, United States.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kocak
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 59MDW/SGOWMP/2200 Bergquist Dr., STE 1, Lackland AFB, TX 78236, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balderas
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 N. Pauline St., Memphis, TN 38105, United States.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colvin
authors.affiliation: Defense Institute for Medical Operations, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Air Force Base, 2201 Papperrell St., Building 3550, San Antonio, TX 78236-5344, United States.
authors.forename: Patrick L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 N. Pauline St., Memphis, TN 38105, United States.
authors.forename: Teresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 N. Pauline St., Memphis, TN 38105, United States.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Klesges
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Behavioral intervention; Military; Obesity; Weight loss