Testing Types of Weekly Feedback Messages in a Weight Loss Program for Adults
Compares two kinds of weekly feedback messages for adults in weight loss.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- University of Virginia
- Where
- Charlottesville, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Examining Valence-based Effects in Self-Monitoring Feedback Messages
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 127 people, planned
- Started
- 23 Mar 2026
- Expected to end
- Jun 2027
- Type of study
- Interventional
- Treatments tested
- Positive Reinforcement
- Positive Reinforcement + Areas for Change
- Record updated
- 31 March 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults who are overweight or have obesity and want to join a 17-week weight loss program that tests weekly progress feedback messages.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join
- Disease stage
- BMI of 25.0 kg/m2 or higher and weight of 175 kg (386 lb) or less
- Earlier treatment
- No weight loss medications now or in the past 6 months. No bariatric surgery. No weight loss of 10 lbs (5 kg) or more in the past 6 months. Not in another weight-loss program now.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or less than 1 year after giving birth
- Eating disorder reported within the past 5 years
- Pacemaker or other implanted medical device
- Cancer, terminal illness, dementia, or another condition that makes weight loss unsafe
- Cannot walk briskly for at least 10 minutes without stopping
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 29 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Age greater than or equal to 18 years
- BMI greater than or equal to 25.0 kg/m2
- Weight less than or equal to 175 kg (due to scale limit)
- Own a smartphone compatible with Fitbit (e.g., an Apple iPhone running iOS 16.4 or higher or Android smartphone running Android 11 or higher) with a cellular and data plan
Who cannot take part
- Current use of weight loss medications, or use of weight loss medications in the 6 months prior to initial pre-screening
- Weight loss of greater than or equal to 10 lbs in the 6 months prior to initial pre-screening
- Recent (in the past 6 months) changes in medications that affect weight
- History of bariatric surgery or plans to obtain bariatric surgery during the study period
- Lack of written confirmation that the potential participant has discussed study participation with their physician if they have been diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, or has have a history of coronary heart disease
- Medical conditions that contraindicate weight loss or prevent completion of the study (e.g., current diagnosis of cancer or terminal illness, dementia, etc.)
- Self-reported eating disorder within past 5 years
- Failure to complete baseline assessment measures
- Failure to complete at least 4 out of 6 days of self-monitoring dietary and weight self-monitoring during the behavioral run-in period
- Any other condition(s) which, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, would adversely affect participation in the study
- Weight greater than 175 kg (due to a weight limit of the study-provided scale)
- Smartphone device owned deemed incompatible with the Fitbit App
- Currently participating in a weight-loss program
- Physical limitations that prevent walking at a brisk pace for at least 10 minutes without stopping
- Use of a pacemaker or other implanted medical device
- Currently pregnant
- Currently breastfeeding
- Less than 1-year post-partum
- Plans to become pregnant within the study period
- One or more study participants living in the household (enrollment limited to one participant per household)
- Unable to complete the 17-week study (due to plans to relocate during the study period, etc.)
- Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent
- Unable to read English at the 5th grade level
- Unwilling to accept random assignment
- Unable or unwilling to download the study smartphone application, wear the physical activity monitor, or use the study e-scale
Where in United States
- University of VirginiaCharlottesville, United StatesContact: Maddie Glover, B.S.Taking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The purpose of this research study is to learn how to identify the most effective ways to provide weekly feedback on participants' progress toward intervention goals during a weight loss program.
The group in the trial
- Self Monitoring FeedbackTreatment being tested
Participants in this study will complete a 60-minute "Weight Loss 101" session and use study-provided tools to record their daily food intake, physical activity, and weight. After a one-week run-in period, they will begin receiving weekly feedback messages. The content and emphasis of these messages will differ between 2 conditions: positive reinforcement vs. positive reinforcement + areas for change.
Treatment: Positive Reinforcement and Positive Reinforcement + Areas for Change
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Examining Valence-based Effects in Self-monitoring Feedback Messages, in the Development of a Novel Semi-automated Self-monitoring Feedback System for Obesity Treatment
- Plain-language title
- Testing Types of Weekly Feedback Messages in a Weight Loss Program for AdultsGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 13 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 31 March 2026