title: Project HELP: a Remotely Delivered Behavioral Intervention for Weight Regain after Bariatric Surgery.
abstract: Weight regain following bariatric surgery is common and potentially compromises the health benefits initially attained after surgery. Poor compliance to dietary and physical activity prescriptions is believed to be largely responsible for weight regain. Patients may benefit from developing specialized psychological skills necessary to engage in positive health behaviors over the long term. Unfortunately, patients often face challenges to physically returning to the bariatric surgery program for support in developing and maintaining these behaviors. Remotely delivered interventions, in contrast, can be conveniently delivered to the patient and have been found efficacious for a number of health problems, including obesity. To date, they have received little attention with bariatric surgery patients. The study aimed to evaluate a newly developed, remote acceptance-based behavioral intervention for postoperative weight regain.
  
  
  
  Patients at least 1.5 years out from surgery who experienced postoperative weight regain were recruited to receive the 10-week intervention. Participants were assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and at 3-month follow-up.
  
  
  
  Support for the intervention's feasibility and acceptability was achieved, with 70 % retention among those who started the program and a high mean rating (4.7 out of 5.0) of program satisfaction among study completers. On average, weight regain was reversed with a mean weight loss of 5.1 ± 5.5 % throughout the intervention. This weight loss was maintained at 3-month follow-up. Significant improvements in eating-related and acceptance-based variables also were observed.
  
  
  
  This pilot study provides initial support for the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a remotely delivered acceptance-based behavioral intervention for postoperative weight regain.
authors: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, 1645 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 400, Chicago, IL, 60625, USA. lauren_e_bradley@rush.edu.
authors: Lauren E
authors: LE
authors: Bradley
authors: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Evan M
authors: EM
authors: Forman
authors: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Stephanie G
authors: SG
authors: Kerrigan
authors: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Stephanie P
authors: SP
authors: Goldstein
authors: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Meghan L
authors: ML
authors: Butryn
authors: Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors: J Graham
authors: JG
authors: Thomas
authors: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: James D
authors: JD
authors: Herbert
authors: Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: David B
authors: DB
authors: Sarwer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011184:Postoperative Period; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: Behavioral intervention; Postoperative weight regain; The research described in this paper was supported in part by grants to the first author from the American Psychological Association and the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology.; eHealth