FLASH: Finding Lasting Approaches to Sustaining Health

You have been asked to consider participating in a weight loss study called "FLASH: Finding Lasting Approaches to Sustaining Health."

Before we can offer you the opportunity to enroll in this study, we must ask you some brief questions to determine if you are eligible to participate. These questions are about your weight, your health history, and your availability to attend treatment visits. Completing this brief health screen should take less than 10 minutes of your time. If you are eligible to participate in the weight loss study, we will invite you to attend an in-person orientation session to learn more about the study and to ask questions. If you are not eligible to participate, this online screener is the only thing we will ask of you, and we will offer to give you information about other weight loss programs.

The purpose of the study is to learn about behaviors and experiences that affect weight loss maintenance and how technology can improve weight loss maintenance. This is an 18-month research study. After signing a consent form and having their weight and height checked to confirm eligibility, all study participants will receive a 6-month weight loss treatment program that includes weekly in-person group treatment sessions. They will be taught to gradually modify their eating and possibly their exercise in a way that fits their lifestyle. Participants who lose at least 3% of their body weight (e.g., at least 6 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds) will be invited to participate in the 12-month maintenance phase of the study. During this period, we will give participants smart scales to weigh themselves at least weekly and a Fitbit to track their daily sleep and exercise. We will ask participants to answer a short survey (< 5 minutes) on their smartphone twice per day using an app. The survey will ask questions related to weight loss maintenance (e.g., eating, physical activity, mood, stress). Participants will also be asked to test between zero and four weight loss maintenance strategies each week. The strategies will be chosen randomly and delivered by smartphone. These activities include (a) mindfulness-based stress reduction; (b) building motivation for making healthy diet and physical activity choices; (c) tracking eating; (d) learning strategies for improving physical activity and getting enough sleep. During the 12-month maintenance phase participants will be asked to come to the Center for brief check-ins once every two months.

There are no questions in this survey that should cause you any discomfort. Your taking part in this survey is completely voluntary. If you do not want to complete the survey you are free to choose not to do so. The protected health information that we collect during this survey will not be reused or disclosed to any other person or entity, except (1) as required by law, (2) for authorized oversight of the research project, or (3) for other research for which the use or disclosure of protected health information is otherwise permissible under this policy. If you are not eligible or choose not to continue in this study, any of your personal or identifying information you give to us during the screener will be deleted from our records.

Your completion of this survey may not benefit you personally. We are hoping these completed surveys will provide information to help us enroll participants who will be able and willing to participate.

Your answers to the survey will be kept confidential. None of the information you provide will have your name or any number on it that will identify you personally. If this study sounds like something you are interested in and you have time, please click "continue." If this does not sound like something that interests you, feel free to exit this screen.

If you have any questions about this questionnaire or the research study itself, please feel free to call us at 401-793-8992.

If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, please feel free to call our Office of Research Administration manager at 401-444-6897. Thank you very much for your time!

Would you like to see if you are eligible?

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