A Culinary-Based Intensive Lifestyle Program for Patients With Obesity

A Culinary-Based Intensive Lifestyle Program for Patients With Obesity

The study team proposes in this pilot to test, in a single-arm mixed-methods study, the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the 16 modular classes taught by a chef, dietitian, and health coach. While the pilot may not have the power to detect significant change, it will provide preliminary data for a NIH application to further test this curriculum in a pragmatic, community-based, randomized multi-site Teaching Kitchen Collaborative Curriculum (TKCC) study planned for Jan 2022 or thereafter. If effective, the TKCC has potential to impact population health through translation into teaching kitchens nationally and adaptation to clinic /community settings.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Community-dwelling
• English speaking patients
• Aged 30-65 (in order to capture adults living independently)
• Diagnosis of class I or II obesity (BMI 30-39.9 kg/m2)
• Participants must be available for and willing to commit to the sixteen classes either in person or virtually.
• Must have a device with a camera (smartphone, tablet, computer)
• Use email and text
• Home Wi-Fi with high-speed internet
• Must have minimal cooktop and oven capacity at home
• Participants will be referred AND have medical clearance from a primary care provider at Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients taking obesity or diabetes medications as assessed by study medical director
• severe obesity (BMI≥40kg/m2)
• Diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes (HA1C ≥ 6.5) in the past (excluding gestational diabetes)
• implanted electronic medical device
• History of bariatric surgery
• Current participation in a longitudinal culinary or weight management program, including the D-H Weight and Wellness Center
• Severe mental health or life-threatening illnesses
• Unstable cardiovascular disease
• Hospitalization for depression in past 6 month
• Self-report of alcohol or substance abuse within the past 12 months
• Diet / exercise contraindications
• Other medical, psychiatric, or behavioral limitations that in the judgment of the principal investigator may interfere with study participation or the ability to follow the intervention protocols determined by PI
• Prisoners
• Pregnant women will not be eligible to participate nor will those unable or unwilling to give informed consent or communicate with local study staff.