Weight Loss Paid Clinical Trials in Massachusetts

This is a 4-month randomized trial of a prolonged nightly fasting intervention (PROFAST) in 40 overweight and obese individuals with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), and smoldering waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (SWM). The purpose of this study is to understand if fasting for a prolonged period of time during the nighttime hours is a strategy to prevent overweight and obese individuals from developing blood cancer. Participants will be randomized into the following two groups: Group A: PROFAST intervention for 4 months Group B: Healthy Lifestyle Control group for 4 months Read Less

Approximately 70% of American adults have overweight/obesity, which increases risk of major medical issues and preventable death (Abdelaal et. al, 2017). Many individuals with overweight/obesity attempt to lose weight through behavioral strategies, e.g., adopting a reduced-calorie diet and/or increased physical activity. However, it is exceedingly difficult to consistently adhere to a reduced-calorie diet and high levels of physical activity; as such, most individuals attempting to lose weight via these methods experience repeated instances of non-adherence, i.e., dietary and physical activity lapses. These lapses are a core driver of weight loss failure, undermining individuals' ability to achieve weight control (Forman et al, 2017). As such, it is important to understand what predicts these lapses, which in turn allows for better lapse prevention. The current study proposes to measure these risk factors in an ecologically valid manner, i.e., in the moment they occur and in the context of individuals' everyday lives, using advanced technology. Specifically, the current study will use ecological momentary assessments (EMA; brief, repeated surveys delivered in one's natural environment, typically via a smartphone) and sensor technology (e.g., Fitbit and sensors on smartphone devices) to measure momentary risk factors of dietary and physical activity lapse, as well as the lapses themselves. Findings from this research project will lay the groundwork for a sophisticated just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI), a tailored, personalized intervention that targets momentary risk factors (e.g., cravings) via in-the-moment support, thereby reducing lapse occurrence and improving adherence to behavioral weight control prescriptions. Read Less

The IWCR is a global scientific study aimed at better understanding the opportunities and barriers for reducing the prevalence of obesity by collecting information from people who have experience with weight management in their everyday lives. The investigators seek to gather information on a wide range of weight management experiences, ranging from weight loss and weight loss maintenance to weight gain and inability to lose weight. Read Less