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Men are underrepresented in weight loss programs and little is currently known about the weight loss strategies men prefer. This study describes the weight loss strategies used by men during a men-only weight loss program. At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, participants reported how frequently they used 45 weight loss strategies including strategies frequently recommended by the program (i.e., mentioned during every intervention contact; e.g., daily self-weighing), strategies occasionally recommended by the program (i.e., mentioned at least once during the program; e.g., reduce calories from beverages), and strategies not included in the program (e.g., increase daily steps). At baseline participants (N = 107, 44.2 years, body mass index = 31.4 kg/m[superscript 2], 76.6% White) reported regularly using 7.3 ± 6.6 (M ± SD) strategies. The intervention group increased the number of strategies used to 19.1 ± 8.3 at 3 months and 17.1 ± 8.4 at 6 months with no changes in the waitlist group. The intervention group reported increased use of most of the strategies frequently recommended by the program (4 of 5), nearly half of the strategies occasionally recommended by the program (10 of 24), and one strategy not included in the program (of 16) at 6 months. The intervention effect at 6 months was significantly mediated by the number of strategies used at 3 months. This study adds to what is known about men's use of weight loss strategies prior to and during a formal weight loss program and will help future program developers create programs that are tailored to men.

Introduction: Obtaining body weights remotely could improve feasibility of pragmatic trials. This investigation examined whether weights collected via cellular scale or electronic health record (EHR) correspond to gold standard in‐person study weights. Methods: The agreement of paired weight measurements from cellular scales were compared to study scales from a weight loss intervention and EHR‐collected weights were compared to study scales from a weight loss maintenance intervention. Differential weight change estimates between intervention and control groups using both pragmatic methods were compared to study collected weight. In the Log2Lose feasibility weight loss trial, in‐person weights were collected bi‐weekly and compared to weights collected via cellular scales throughout the study period. In the MAINTAIN weight loss maintenance trial, in‐person weights were collected at baseline, 14, 26, 42 and 56 weeks. All available weights from the EHR during the study period were obtained. Results: On average, in Log2Lose cellular scale weights were 0.6 kg (95% CI: −2.9, 2.2) lower than in‐person weights; in MAINTAIN, EHR weights were 2.8 kg (SE: −0.5, 6.0) higher than in‐person weights. Estimated weight change using pragmatic methods and study scales in both studies were in the same direction and of similar magnitude. Conclusion: Both methods can be used as cost‐effective and real‐world surrogates within a tolerable variability for the gold‐standard. Trial registration: NCT02691260; NCT01357551. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Men who work in skilled and unskilled trades and labor occupations (i.e., blue‐collar occupations), have high rates of obesity and associated comorbidities but are underrepresented in weight loss programs. A first step in engaging this group is to better understand their preferences for weight loss programs. Methods: Respondents were men working in trade and labor occupations, with overweight/obesity, and an interest in losing weight. A discrete choice experiment was developed, and the data were analyzed using mixed logit model. Respondent characteristics were tested as effect modifiers. Results: Respondents (N = 221, age (M ± SD) 45.0 ± 12.6, BMI 33.3 ± 6.3, 77% non‐Hispanic white) working in a variety of occupations (construction 31%, manufacturing 30%, transportation 25%, maintenance/repair 14%) participated in this study. Results indicate preferences for programs that encourage making smaller dietary changes, are delivered online, and do not incorporate competition. Results were consistent across sensitivity analyses and most respondent groups. Conclusions: The results suggest specific ways to make weight loss programs more appealing to men in trade and labor occupations. Using experimental methods to quantify preferences using larger, more representative samples would further assist in tailoring behavioral weight loss programs for under‐reached populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We examined whether adding behavioral weight loss strategies could improve the outcomes of a community weight loss campaign. Methods. Shape Up RI is a 12-week, online, team-based program for health improvement in Rhode Island. In study 1, we randomly assigned participants to the standard Shape Up RI program or to the program plus video lessons on weight loss. In study 2, we randomly assigned participants to the standard program or to the program plus video lessons; daily self-monitoring of weight, eating, and exercise; and computer-generated feedback. Results. Adding video lessons alone (study 1) did not result in significantly improved weight loss (2.0 [+ or -]2.8 kg vs 1.4 [+ or -]2.9 kg; P=.15). However, when the video lessons were supplemented with self-monitoring and feedback (study 2), the average weight loss more than doubled (3.5 [+ or -]3.8 kg vs 1.4 [+ or -]2.7 kg; P Conclusions. Adding behavioral strategies to community campaigns may improve weight loss outcomes with minimal additional cost. (Am J Public Health. 2010; 100:2513-2519. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.183616)

Background: State-of-the-art behavioral weight loss treatment (SBT) can lead to clinically meaningful weight loss, but only 30-60% achieve this goal. Developing adaptive interventions that change based on individual progress could increase the number of people who benefit.Purpose: Conduct a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) to determine the optimal time to identify SBT suboptimal responders and whether it is better to switch to portion-controlled meals (PCM) or acceptance-based treatment (ABT).Method: The BestFIT trial enrolled 468 adults with obesity who started SBT and were randomized to treatment response assessment at Session 3 (Early TRA) or 7 (Late TRA). Suboptimal responders were re-randomized to PCM or ABT. Responders continued SBT. Primary outcomes were weight change at 6 and 18 months.Results: PCM participants lost more weight at 6 months (-18.4 lbs, 95% CI -20.5, -16.2) than ABT participants (-15.7 lbs, 95% CI: -18.0, -13.4), but this difference was not statistically significant (-2.7 lbs, 95% CI: -5.8, 0.5, p = .09). PCM and ABT participant 18 month weight loss did not differ. Early and Late TRA participants had similar weight losses (p = .96), however, Early TRA PCM participants lost more weight than Late TRA PCM participants (p = .03).Conclusions: Results suggest adaptive intervention sequences that warrant further research (e.g., identify suboptimal responders at Session 3, use PCMs as second-stage treatment). Utilizing the SMART methodology to develop an adaptive weight loss intervention that would outperform gold standard SBT in a randomized controlled trial is an important next step, but may require additional optimization work.Clinical Trial Information: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier; NCT02368002. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We examined whether a previously tested, small-changes weight loss program could be translated for use in African-American churches. Methods: The program consisted of 12 group sessions held weekly at a partner church. Key intervention messages were disseminated via Facebook. A single-arm pretest-posttest evaluation included assessments at baseline, program completion (3 months), and after 3 months with no contact (6 months). Results: Participants (N = 17; 16 women, age 57.5±12.1 years, body mass index 36.5 kg/m2±5.4, hemoglobin A1c 6.3±0.5, blood pressure 132±14/82±7) attended an average of 77% (median = 9) of treatment sessions and 94% and 100% completed the 3- and 6-month assessment visits. All participants reported they were "somewhat" or "very satisfied" with the program. There was minimal interaction with Facebook with an average of 0.5 comments and 3.9 reactions per post. The 3- and 6-month reductions (all ps < .01) were observed for weight (median = -2.7 kg; median = -2.6 kg), waist circumference (median = -3.8cm; median = -5.1cm), and hemoglobin A1c (median = -0.5; median = -0.3). At 3 months, there were significant reductions in systolic (median = -10.7 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (median = -8.0) but not at 6 months. Conclusions: This study suggests that a faith-based, faith-placed intervention utilizing a small-changes approach in African- American churches may achieve sustained weight loss in parishioners with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore gender differences in reasons for losing weight, weight loss methods, and weight loss behaviors prior to and during a weight loss maintenance trial. This is a secondary analysis of data from a 24-month randomized controlled trial comparing Self-Directed or Guided phone-based weight loss maintenance interventions among adults who had intentionally lost ≥10% of their body weight in the year prior to enrollment. Participants reported their weight loss methods and reasons for recently losing weight at baseline. Dietary intake, physical activity, and dietary patterns were assessed at baseline, 12, and 24 months. Participants included 419 adults (18.4% men, age 47.0 ± 10.8, BMI 28.4 ± 5.0). Women were more likely than men to report having used an organized weight loss program during their weight loss (55.9% vs. 24.7%, p < .001) and to report improving personal esteem as a motivator (51.2% vs. 35.1%, p = .01). Men were more likely than women to report eating food from convenience stores at baseline (22.1% vs. 13.2%, p = .05) and throughout the study but otherwise reported similar meal patterns (ps > .05). Men reported higher energy intake than women while physical activity was similar. Although more men self-directed their initial weight loss and more women utilized organized weight loss programs, behaviors reported during weight loss maintenance were similar. Futures studies are needed to understand if these results generalize to other men who have successfully lost weight and are participants in other weight loss maintenance interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Young men are vastly underrepresented in lifestyle interventions, suggesting a need to develop appealing yet effective interventions for this population., Objective: This study aimed to determine the acceptability of a self-guided lifestyle intervention designed specifically for young men (age: 18-35 years old)., Methods: Semistructured interviews and surveys were completed by 14 men following completion of a remotely delivered, 12-week lifestyle intervention. The intervention included 1 virtual group session, digital tools, access to self-paced web- and mobile-based content, and 12 weekly health risk text messages. We quantitatively and qualitatively examined young men's experiences with the intervention components of a remotely delivered, self-guided lifestyle intervention targeting weight loss. Data were integrated using convergent mixed methods analysis., Results: Men were a mean age of 29.9 (SD 4.9) years with a mean BMI of 31.0 (SD 4.5) kg/m 2 . The self-guided aspect was not acceptable, and a majority preferred more check-ins. Participants expressed a desire for a social aspect in future lifestyle interventions. All men found the focus on health risks appealing. A majority of men found the study-issued, Bluetooth-enabled scale acceptable., Conclusions: Acceptability of the self-guided lifestyle intervention was perceived as suboptimal by young men. The findings highlight the need to add intervention components that sustain motivation and provide additional social support for young men., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04267263; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04267263., (©Jean Miki Reading, Melissa M Crane, Justin Guan, Ronston Jackman, Maria D Thomson, Jessica Gokee LaRose. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 05.04.2024.)