Experience Success: Virtual Reality Skills Training to Enhance e-Weight Loss

The aim of this Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer grant is to complete development of a virtual reality intervention to augment and improve commercial Internet-delivered behavioral weight loss treatments, and to test it in a randomized controlled trial.

Overweight and obesity are major health problems, affecting over two-thirds of US adults. Commercially available Internet-based weight loss programs are currently used by millions of overweight/obese individuals in the U.S, but weight losses are often poor, likely because these products on the whole do not incorporate empirically validated behavioral weight loss strategies that have been researched for over 40 years. Similarly, the weight losses obtained via research-based online weight loss programs are about half the size of those obtained via in-person treatment, likely because of the lack of (1) "hands-on" training in behavioral weight control strategies, and (2) support and guidance from group leaders and peers, both of which are hallmarks of traditional in-person treatment. The goal of this application is to improve commercial Internet -delivered behavioral obesity treatments by developing a virtual reality (VR) system that can be integrated into existing Internet weight control programs, such as Weight Watchers Online. The VR system will allow users to experience learning, implementing, and mastering behavioral weight control strategies in controlled virtual settings. The VR system will: (a) increase awareness of barriers to weight control behaviors, (b) teach skills to cope with these barriers, (c) build confidence using these skills, and (d) increase commitment to using these skills in real-world situations. The design of the VR System is based on Social Cognitive Theory, which states that health behaviors are learned by observing and imitating peers and role models, and by receiving social reinforcement. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted with N = 125 participants to test the efficacy of 4 scenarios for improving weight losses obtained in a popular paid commercial weight loss program (Weight Watchers Online) over 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• body mass index (BMI) 25-45 kg/m^2
• English speaking and literate
• able to walk 2 blocks unassisted without stopping
• access to a computer and the Internet

Exclusion Criteria:

• report of a heart condition, chest pain during periods of activity or rest, or loss of consciousness
• a medical condition that would affect the safety and/or efficacy of a weight management program involving diet and physical activity
• report of a condition that in the judgment of the Principal Investigator would render the participant potentially unlikely to be able to follow the study protocol for 6 months, including terminal illness, substance abuse, eating disorder, dementia, or other significant uncontrolled psychiatric problem
• currently pregnant, within 6-months postpartum, or intend to become pregnant within 6 months
• plan to move out of the local geographic area within 6 months
• previous participation in a weight loss study at the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center of Brown University and The Miriam Hospital within the last 2 years
• current participation in another behavioral weight control program