Piloting a Patient Navigator Program to Facilitate Uptake and Persistence With Evidence-based Weight Loss Interventions
Evidence-based interventions for overweight and obesity are underutilized. The utilization and efficacy of these interventions may improve with the implementation of a patient navigator program, as has been practiced in other fields (e.g., cancer). The proposed study will enroll adults (index participants) (N=68) with overweight/obesity in a 12-month program in which they will be provided with a navigator who will help them understand their options for evidence-based weight loss intervention and who will promote initiation and continued engagement with an intervention option. The project will provide information about how well received the navigator program is and the extent to which it works as expected.
• BMI \> 27 kg/m2
• weight \< 396 pounds due to limits of the wireless scale
• age 18 to 75
• ability to read and speak English sufficiently to engage with a counselor and complete study measures
• willing to be randomized to either study condition
• willing to engage with a counselor for assistance in identifying and initiating a weight loss intervention
• successfully complete enrollment and assessments tasks, including connecting a wireless scale for baseline measurement of weight
• reliable access to a device capable of using email and Drexel approved videoconferencing software
• residing in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area, which includes Southeastern PA, Southern NJ, Northeast MD, and Northern DE
• agree that they will not join another intervention study in the WELL Center in the next 12 months