Developing a Positive Psychology Intervention to Promote Health Behaviors in Metabolic Syndrome: RCT
Metabolic Syndrome
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Metabolic Syndrome
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Participants must have at least three of the five MetS criteria:
Elevated abdominal obesity (waist circumference >102 cm in men or >88 cm in women)
- If waist circumference is not available, body mass index (BMI) will be used as a surrogate measure based on prior research (BMI ≥29.1 kg/m2 for men and 27.2 kg/m2 for women).
- Elevated blood pressure (systolic ≥130 and/or diastolic ≥85 mm Hg or be on blood pressure medication).
- Serum triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol <40 mg/dL in men or <50 mg/dL in women
- Fasting plasma glucose >100mg/dL.
OR
- Fewer than 3 MetS criteria but with PCP approval
- Suboptimal physical activity defined as ≤150 minutes/week moderate intensity activity, which represents less than national-level recommendations.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Inability to speak/read English
- Cognitive deficits impeding ability to participate or provide informed consent (measured by a 6-item screen)
- Illness likely to lead to death in the next 6 months per PCP
- Current treatment for cancer, liver, or renal disease
- Pregnancy
- Documented severe mental illness (e.g., psychosis, suicidality)
- No telephone access
- Inability to be physically active
- Diabetes or known or suggested cardiac disease, given that this is a primary prevention study.
- Participation in any other research studies or clinical trials that focus on increasing physical activities
Sites / Locations
- Massachusetts General Hospital- Revere Health Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Intervention Group
Wait-list Control Comparison Group
Participants will complete an 8-week group physical activity and positive psychology program, in which they will complete exercises related to increasing positive emotions and physical activity during and between the group sessions. They will track their activity (steps) and set personalized physical activity goals each week, and complete a group walk or indoor exercise during the group sessions. The investigators will ask questions about participants' health and health behaviors, and ask them to wear a physical activity monitor at the beginning and end of the program. During times when in-person visits cannot happen (e.g., COVID-19), we will do virtual group sessions instead of meeting at the clinics, conducted via videoconference platform (i.e., Zoom), the group walks will not happen, and all exercise will be done individually to comply with social distancing measures.
Participants in the waitlist control group will not receive any active intervention during the initial study period (weeks 1-9). At Week 10, this group will receive the same intervention and assessments as described in the active treatment group above.