Promoting Successful Weight Loss in Primary Care in Louisiana (PROPEL)

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Tulane University, Ochsner Health System, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana., Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

The primary aim of this trial is to develop and test the effectiveness of a 24 month, patient-centered, pragmatic and scalable obesity treatment program delivered within primary care, inclusive of an underserved population. Half of the clinics received a behavioral intervention delivered in a primary care setting and half of the clinics received usual care.

This study is a cluster-randomized, two-arm controlled trial in primary care settings. A total of 18 primary care clinics inclusive of low income populations with a high percentage of African Americans from urban and rural areas across Louisiana were randomized to either 1) intervention or 2) usual care. The sample includes 803 patients with obesity (BMI 30-50 kg/m2) (18 clinics, median of 40.5 patients / clinic). The primary aim of this trial is to develop and test the effectiveness of a 24 month, patient-centered, pragmatic and scalable obesity treatment program delivered within primary care, inclusive of an underserved population. Patients in the intervention arm attended weekly (16 in-person) sessions in the first six months, followed by monthly sessions for the remaining 18 months. The behavioral intervention was delivered by a trained health coach embedded in the primary care clinic. Primary Care Practitioners in the intervention arm received a series of webinars on obesity science to help them manage and treat obese patients. Patients assigned to the usual care arm will continue to interact with their Primary Care Practitioner according to their usual schedule, and will receive a series of newsletters on topics of interest, including importance of sleep for health, brain and memory health, goal setting, smoking cessation, etc. Primary Care Practitioners in the usual care arm received a webinar describing the current Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approach to reimbursing for obesity treatment, and a reminder informational brochure will be sent to the Primary Care Practitioners each year. Patients in both arms were assessed on primary and secondary outcome measures at baseline, and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of intervention.

Patients in the Lifestyle Counseling Arm attended weekly (16 in-person) sessions in the first six months, followed by monthly sessions for the remaining 18 months. The behavioral intervention was delivered by a trained health coach embedded in the primary care clinic. Primary Care Practitioners in the experimental arm received a series of webinars on obesity science to help them manage and treat patients with obesity.

Patients assigned to the usual care arm continued to interact with their Primary Care Practitioners according to their usual schedule, and received a series of newsletters on topics of interest, including importance of sleep for health, brain and memory health, goal setting, smoking cessation, etc. Primary Care Practitioners in the usual care arm received a webinar describing the current Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) approach to reimbursing for obesity treatment, and a reminder informational brochure was sent to the Primary Care Practitioners each year.

Trained health coaches delivered the active intervention - a comprehensive, "high-intensity" program, as recommended first-line therapy by the 2013 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/The Obesity Society Guidelines.

The PROMIS-29 physical function sub-scale includes 4 questions and scores range from 4 to 20 (higher values represent a better outcome). Transformed scores were used in analysis. Norm-based scores were calculated so that a score of 50 represents the mean or average of the reference population. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A positive change score indicates improvement while a negative change score indicates worsening from baseline.

The PROMIS-29 Anxiety sub-scale includes 4 questions and scores range from 4 to 20 (higher values represent a worse outcome). Transformed scores were used in analysis. Norm-based scores were calculated so that a score of 50 represents the mean or average of the reference population. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A negative change score indicates improvement while a positive change score indicates worsening from baseline.

The PROMIS-29 Depression sub-scale includes 4 questions and scores range from 4 to 20 (higher values represent a worse outcome). Transformed scores were used in analysis. Norm-based scores were calculated so that a score of 50 represents the mean or average of the reference population. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A negative change score indicates improvement while a positive change score indicates worsening from baseline.

The PROMIS-29 Fatigue sub-scale includes 4 questions and scores range from 4 to 20 (higher values represent a worse outcome). Transformed scores were used in analysis. Norm-based scores were calculated so that a score of 50 represents the mean or average of the reference population. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A negative change score indicates improvement while a positive change score indicates worsening from baseline.

The PROMIS-29 sleep disturbance sub-scale includes 4 questions and scores ranges from 4 to 20 (higher values represent a worse outcome). Transformed scores were used in analysis. Norm-based scores were calculated so that a score of 50 represents the mean or average of the reference population. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A negative change score indicates improvement while a positive change score indicates worsening from baseline.

The PROMIS-29 social roles sub-scale includes 4 questions and scores range from 4 to 20 (higher values represent a better outcome). Transformed scores were used in analysis. Norm-based scores were calculated so that a score of 50 represents the mean or average of the reference population. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A positive change score indicates improvement while a negative change score indicates worsening from baseline.

The PROMIS-29 pain interference sub-scale includes 4 questions and scores range from 4 to 20 (higher values represent a worse outcome). Transformed scores were used in analysis. Norm-based scores were calculated so that a score of 50 represents the mean or average of the reference population. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A negative change score indicates improvement while a positive change score indicates worsening from baseline.

The PROMIS-29 pain intensity sub-scale includes 1 question and scores range from 1 to 10 (higher values represent a worse outcome). A negative change score indicates improvement while a positive change score indicates worsening from baseline.

Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-L) measure consists of a total score and five subscales--physical function, self-esteem, sexual life, public distress, and work. Transformed scores used in analyses were calculated so that scores are on a scale of 0 to 100. The total transformed score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher change scores indicating greater improvement from Baseline.

The IWQOL-L physical function sub-scale includes 11 questions. Transformed scores used in analyses were calculated so that scores are on a scale of 0 to 100. The transformed score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher change scores indicating greater improvement from Baseline.

The IWQOL-L self-esteem sub-scale includes 7 questions. Transformed scores used in analyses were calculated so that scores are on a scale of 0 to 100. The transformed score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher change scores indicating greater improvement from Baseline.

The IWQOL-L sexual life sub-scale includes 4 questions. Transformed scores used in analyses were calculated so that scores are on a scale of 0 to 100. The transformed score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher change scores indicating greater improvement from Baseline.

The IWQOL-L public distress sub-scale includes 5 questions. Transformed scores used in analyses were calculated so that scores are on a scale of 0 to 100. The transformed score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher change scores indicating greater improvement from Baseline.

The IWQOL-L work/daily activity sub-scale includes 4 questions. Transformed scores used in analyses were calculated so that scores are on a scale of 0 to 100. The transformed score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher change scores indicating greater improvement from Baseline.

Inclusion Criteria: Age 20.0 - 75.0 years BMI 30.0 - 50.0 kg/m2 Able to provide written informed consent Willing to change diet, physical activity and weight Patient of a participating clinic Able to participate in scheduled sessions Exclusion Criteria: Currently participating in a weight loss program Current use of weight loss medication or recent weight loss (>10 lbs in last 6 months) Plans to move from the area within 2 years Given birth within the past year, is currently pregnant or plans to become pregnant within 2 years Past bariatric surgery or plans for bariatric surgery within 2 years Current major depression History of suicidal behavior or diagnosed eating disorder (bulimia, anorexia) Hospitalization for mental disorder or substance abuse in the previous year Active cancer (except prostate, skin and thyroid if approved by physician) Serious arrhythmias or cardiomyopathy Severe congestive heart failure Stroke or heart attack in previous six months Chronic Inflammatory conditions, including but not limited to severe arthritis, lupus, or inflammatory bowel disease(i.e. Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) Disease that is life threatening or that can interfere with or be aggravated by exercise or weight loss Discretion of primary care physician or principal investigator

A de-identified individual-level dataset will be made available to researchers making a reasonable request and upon approval of the PROPEL Publications Committee. Data will be made available 1 year after publication of the primary outcomes manuscript. A data sharing statement and the protocol are available at: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2007448

Data will be made available upon reasonable request to the Principal Investigator 1 year after the publication of the Primary Outcomes manuscript.

Katzmarzyk PT, Martin CK, Newton RL Jr, Apolzan JW, Arnold CL, Davis TC, Denstel KD, Mire EF, Thethi TK, Brantley PJ, Johnson WD, Fonseca V, Gugel J, Kennedy KB, Lavie CJ, Price-Haywood EG, Sarpong DF, Springgate B. Promoting Successful Weight Loss in Primary Care in Louisiana (PROPEL): Rationale, design and baseline characteristics. Contemp Clin Trials. 2018 Apr;67:1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2018.02.002. Epub 2018 Feb 8.

Myers CA, Martin CK, Newton RL Jr, Apolzan JW, Arnold CL, Davis TC, Price-Haywood EG, Katzmarzyk PT. Cardiovascular Health, Adiposity, and Food Insecurity in an Underserved Population. Nutrients. 2019 Jun 19;11(6):1376. doi: 10.3390/nu11061376.

Katzmarzyk PT, Martin CK, Newton RL Jr, Apolzan JW, Arnold CL, Davis TC, Price-Haywood EG, Denstel KD, Mire EF, Thethi TK, Brantley PJ, Johnson WD, Fonseca V, Gugel J, Kennedy KB, Lavie CJ, Sarpong DF, Springgate B. Weight Loss in Underserved Patients - A Cluster-Randomized Trial. N Engl J Med. 2020 Sep 3;383(10):909-918. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2007448.

Hochsmann C, Dorling JL, Martin CK, Newton RL Jr, Apolzan JW, Myers CA, Denstel KD, Mire EF, Johnson WD, Zhang D, Arnold CL, Davis TC, Fonseca V, Lavie CJ, Price-Haywood EG, Katzmarzyk PT; PROPEL Research Group. Effects of a 2-Year Primary Care Lifestyle Intervention on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Cluster-Randomized Trial. Circulation. 2021 Mar 23;143(12):1202-1214. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.051328. Epub 2021 Feb 9.

Dorling JL, Martin CK, Yu Q, Cao W, Hochsmann C, Apolzan JW, Newton RL, Denstel KD, Mire EF, Katzmarzyk PT. Mediators of weight change in underserved patients with obesity: exploratory analyses from the Promoting Successful Weight Loss in Primary Care in Louisiana (PROPEL) cluster-randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Oct 6;116(4):1112-1122. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac179.

Katzmarzyk PT, Mire EF, Martin CK, Newton RL Jr, Apolzan JW, Price-Haywood EG, Denstel KD, Horswell R, Chu ST, Johnson WD; PROPEL Research Group. Comparison of weight loss data collected by research technicians versus electronic medical records: the PROPEL trial. Int J Obes (Lond). 2022 Aug;46(8):1456-1462. doi: 10.1038/s41366-022-01129-9. Epub 2022 May 6.

Katzmarzyk PT, Denstel KD, Martin CK, Newton RL Jr, Apolzan JW, Mire EF, Horswell R, Johnson WD, Brown AW, Zhang D; PROPEL Research Group. Intraclass correlation coefficients for weight loss cluster randomized trials in primary care: The PROPEL trial. Clin Obes. 2022 Aug;12(4):e12524. doi: 10.1111/cob.12524. Epub 2022 Apr 12.

Katzmarzyk PT, Apolzan JW, Gajewski B, Johnson WD, Martin CK, Newton RL Jr, Perri MG, VanWormer JJ, Befort CA. Weight loss in primary care: A pooled analysis of two pragmatic cluster-randomized trials. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2021 Dec;29(12):2044-2054. doi: 10.1002/oby.23292. Epub 2021 Oct 29.

Katzmarzyk PT, Mire EF, Martin CK, Newton RL, Apolzan JW, Denstel KD, Johnson WD; PROPEL Research Group. Physical activity and weight loss in a pragmatic weight loss trial. Int J Obes (Lond). 2023 Mar;47(3):244-248. doi: 10.1038/s41366-023-01260-1. Epub 2023 Jan 26.