Remotely Delivered Behavioral Weight Loss Using an Ad Libitum Plant-Based Diet Versus a Balanced Calorie Deficit Diet
Obesity, Overweight
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Obesity focused on measuring vegetarian, behavioral weight loss, weight loss, dietary self-monitoring, obesity
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- BMI 27-50 kg/m2
- Ages 18-75 years
- Resides in the U.S.
- Consistent access to internet at home
- Proficient skill level in speaking, writing, and understanding English
- Reporting a desire to lose weight
- Consistently available for 15-minute once-weekly video appointment between the hours of 8 AM and 7 PM EST
- Willing to follow a whole food plant-based diet or a traditional calorie-reduced diet for the study duration
- Individuals must provide consent for the research team to contact their personal physician if necessary, to provide clearance or to consult about rapid weight loss
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently pregnant or breastfeeding or planned pregnancy within the study period
- Recent weight loss (≥ 5% weight loss in 3-months prior to the study)
- History of bariatric surgery
- Currently following a low-fat plant-based diet
- Medical condition (e.g., cancer, type I diabetes, renal failure), current substance use problem, or psychiatric condition (e.g., active substance abuse, eating disorder) that may pose a risk to the participant during intervention or cause a change in weight
- Recently began or changed the dose of a medication that can cause significant change in weight
- Planning on quitting cigarette smoking over the program period
- Participation in a concurrent weight loss program during the study period
- Medical diagnosis currently influencing weight or appetite
- Medical condition that would limit ability to participate in this program (for example, mild stroke, diabetes if taking insulin, head trauma, cognitive disorder)
- Acute suicidality
- Currently meets criteria for regular loss-of-control eating (i.e., ≥ 9 binge episodes in past 3 months
- Currently reports engaging in a compensatory behavior
Sites / Locations
- Drexel University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Experimental
Lifestyle Modification with a Balanced Calorie Deficit Diet
Lifestyle Modification with an Ad Libitum Whole Food Plant-Based Eating Plan
Lifestyle modification intervention with a balanced calorie deficit diet (i.e., participants will be prescribed a calorie goal and will track their dietary intake in order to meet this goal).
Lifestyle modification intervention with an ad libitum whole food plant-based diet (i.e., participants will eat, ad libitum, fruits, vegetables, starches, legumes, and whole grains, and will avoid eating processed foods, refined oils, and animal products)