title: Recruitment and Retention for a Weight Loss Maintenance Trial Involving Weight Loss Prior to Randomization.
abstract: A weight loss maintenance trial involving weight loss prior to randomization is challenging to implement due to the potential for dropout and insufficient weight loss. We examined rates and correlates of non-initiation, dropout, and insufficient weight loss during a weight loss maintenance trial.
  
  
  
  The MAINTAIN trial involved a 16-week weight loss program followed by randomization among participants losing at least 4 kg. Psychosocial measures were administered during a screening visit. Weight was obtained at the first group session and 16 weeks later to determine eligibility for randomization.
  
  
  
  Of 573 patients who screened as eligible, 69 failed to initiate the weight loss program. In adjusted analyses, failure to initiate was associated with lower age, lack of a support person, and less encouragement for making dietary changes. Among participants who initiated, 200 dropped out, 82 lost insufficient weight, and 222 lost sufficient weight for randomization. Compared to losing sufficient weight, dropping out was associated with younger age and tobacco use, whereas losing insufficient weight was associated with non-White race and controlled motivation for physical activity.
  
  
  
  Studies should be conducted to evaluate strategies to maximize recruitment and retention of subgroups that are less likely to initiate and be retained in weight loss maintenance trials.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Durham NC USA; Department of Medicine Duke University Medical Center Durham NC USA.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Voils
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Durham NC USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Grubber
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Durham NC USA; Department of Psychiatry Duke University Medical Center Durham NC USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McVay
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Durham NC USA; Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Duke University Medical Center Durham NC USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Durham NC USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Durham NC USA; Department of Medicine Duke University Medical Center Durham NC USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gierisch
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Durham NC USA.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Durham NC USA; Department of Medicine Duke University Medical Center Durham NC USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Maciejewski
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Durham NC USA; Department of Medicine Duke University Medical Center Durham NC USA.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yancy
keywords: clinical trials; recruitment; retention; weight loss maintenance