Want to lose weight and get healthy in the New Year?

Are you interested in trying a flexible weight loss program at no-cost?

If you are at least 25 years old, interested in losing weight, and you live with a spouse or significant other, this study may be for you! If you are eligible, you will:

• Receive free access to a weight loss program for 6 months (at any location) & access to all eTools, including 24/7 Expert Chat. The program is flexible; you may use the program as much or as little as you’d like over the course of 6 months. Medication is not used in this program.
• Complete questionnaires at your initial visit and again 3 and 6 months later and be compensated for your time. You will only need to come to UConn three times over the course of the study.

 

Contact the UConn Weight Management Lab now to learn more about this free 6-month program and to schedule an appointment for January 2015.

(860) 486-3868 or weightresearch@uconn.edu

 

 

 

Study Purpose

This randomized controlled trial will examine the potential impact of weight loss on untreated family members in the home.

 

Study Design

Eligible participants will be invited to come to the University of Connecticut to complete a baseline assessment visit with their spouse and any children in their home. Height and weight will be obtained and participants will be asked to complete questionnaires regarding dietary choices, physical activity, weight management strategies, and relationship with your family. Upon completion of the baseline questionnaires, participants will be randomized to either Weight Watchers or to a self-help condition. If you are randomized to Weight Watchers, you will receive 6 months of free membership that you can use at any Weight Watchers location and to access eTools. If you are randomized to the self-help condition, you will receive written dietary and exercise guidelines and a list of local resources that might support weight management. At the end of the 6 month study, you will also receive 6 months of free membership to Weight Watchers. Participants will be asked to return 3 and 6-months after their initial visit to collect follow-up information, including height/weight.

 

Study Requirements

To be eligible for the study, you must be at least 25 years old, interested in losing weight, and living with a spouse/significant other who may also be overweight. For more information on eligibility requirements, please call us at 860-486-3868.

 

Study Duration

6 months

 

Study Benefits

All participants will receive free access to Weight Watchers for six months, although those randomized to the self-help condition will receive that benefit after the study is completed. As a result of participating in this study, the dietary and physical activity habits of you and your family may improve.Weight loss is a possible benefit, but is not guaranteed.

 

Study Contact

Call the UConn Weight Management Lab at 860-486-3868 or email weightresearch@uconn.edu to learn more and find out if you are eligible to participate.

 

This protocol has been approved by the UConn IRB, protocol # H14-260.

UConn Weight Management Lab – Location

All three study assessments will be held at the Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention (CHIP).  If you are familiar with campus, CHIP is located in the J. Ray Ryan Building at UConn, 2006 Hillside Road, Unit 1248, Storrs, CT 06269-1248. The UConn Weight Management Lab is located at CHIP, in the middle of Alumni Quad near South Campus and the Nathan Hale Inn.

UConn faculty and staff should park in their designated areas; if you do not have a UConn parking permit, you must park in the South Parking Garage, unless your appointment is at or after 5:00pm.  If your appointment is at or after 5pm, you may park anywhere on campus – there is a large parking lot up the hill next to South Parking garage (called Y lot – see directions to South Parking garage, including walking directions on the back page) or another parking lot called S lot that is accessible from Bolton Road on campus.

Driving directions to UConn and the South Parking Garage

Take I-84 East to Exit 68 in Tolland. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right and follow 195 South for about 7 miles to UConn. (You will see the intersection of Routes 195 and 32 after approximately 4 miles, the intersection of Routes 195 and 44 after another 2 miles, and then campus after another 1 mile.)

Turn right onto North Eagleville Road, and follow it until you get to the intersection with Hillside Road (there is a light at this intersection). Turn left onto Hillside Road, and follow it until you get to Gampel Pavilion on the right. Turn right after Gampel Pavilion to go to the South Parking Garage.

Walking Directions from South Parking Garage or Y lot:

Come out of the South Parking Garage and walk to the front of the UConn Co-op and take a right. You will be on Hillside Road heading south. Walk to the first stop sign (2 blocks). You will be at the intersection of Hillside Road and Gilbert Road.

Kitty corner from you on the right side of Gilbert Road will be a group of dormitories (Alumni Quad). Enter into the quad starting from the diagonal pathway at the corner of Hillside and Gilbert. Continue on this pathway towards the dorms.

You will see J. Ray Ryan Building on your right and Elmer S. Watson Hall on your left. Walk under the underpass on the sidewalk between those buildings. Once you are through the underpass, you will come to an intersection of sidewalks (Richard Belden Hall will be directly in front of you). Turn right so that the J. Ray Ryan Building is on your right. Take your first right into the Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention (CHIP) entrance.