Coach to Fit Weight Loss Intervention for Individuals With Serious Mental Illness (C2F)
Serious Mental Illness
About this trial
This is an interventional health services research trial for Serious Mental Illness focused on measuring weight loss, mental illness, exercise
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- chart diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or recurrent major depressive disorder with psychosis;
- age 18 and over;
- BMI >= 30.0 (obese); and
- ownership of a phone running Android OS or iOS (iPhone).
Exclusion Criteria:
- chart diagnosis of dementia;
- history of bariatric surgery;
- pregnant and nursing mothers;
- patient has a conservator/legally authorized representative who makes their medical decisions;
- psychiatric hospitalization during the month prior to enrollment.
Additionally, we will follow the American College of Sports Medicine recommendations for health screening and risk stratification in preparation for starting a moderate intensity exercise program to ensure that participants enrolled are capable of safely engaging in the app's recommendations regarding physical activity. Specifically, all potential participants will be given the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), a screening tool often used in weight management trials. If they endorse symptoms or major signs suggestive of cardiopulmonary disease (i.e., angina, anginal equivalent, dyspnea, syncope, orthopnea, edema, palpitations or claudication), which is a score >=1 on the PAR-Q, they will need clearance from a VA physician before enrolling.
Sites / Locations
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PARecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Other
Coach to fit
Treatment as usual
CoachToFit: Those randomized to CoachToFit will have the CoachToFit app downloaded to their phone by the peer coach and will work with the coach to initialize the app. Individuals will receive an activity tracker compatible with Android OS and iOS (Amazfit Bit) and a Bluetooth scale (Smart Body scale). Participants will be instructed by the peer to complete at least two CoachToFit modules per week. Modules take about 15 minutes to complete and have embedded knowledge quizzes and end with a choice of three goals to practice over the next week. They will also set up a time for the first 20-minute coaching call, which will then continue weekly.
Veterans randomized to the treatment as usual arm will continue to access all services of the VA Pittsburgh, and will participate in three research interviews. After the first meeting, all participants will meet with a peer coach (peer specialists) who will discuss with them the importance of losing weight (using a structured conversation that follows a handout which is provided to the participant). The handout was developed with input from a VA dietitian as well as Veterans and is graphically appealing, with a simple layout, and provides information on diet and activity as well as the local MOVE! schedule