Condition(s) treated: Obesity

Intervention: Online MiDieta Diet and Weight Management Program for Hispanics (Behavior)

Phase: Phase 2

Enrollment status: Recruiting. Expecting to enroll 1000 people.

Sponsor: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Principal investigator(s) or official(s):
Dirk G Schroeder, ScD, MPH, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: DrTango, Inc.
Jessica L Malmad, MPH, Study Director, Affiliation: DrTango, Inc.

Overall contact:
Jessica L Malmad, Phone: 770-649-0298, Ext: 119, Email: jmalmad@hispanicare.com

The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized trial to rigorously test the efficacy of the MiDieta eHealth portal for weight loss among overweight, though otherwise healthy, members of the Hispanic community, many of whom may be members of collaborating managed care organizations.

Official title: An Evaluation of a Culturally- and Linguistically-Appropriate eHealth Portal to Facilitate Improved Diets, Increased Fitness-Levels, and Weight-Loss Among U.S. Hispanics

Study design: Interventional, Prevention, Randomized, Single Blind, Active Control, Parallel Assignment, Efficacy Study

Primary outcome: Weight loss

Secondary outcome: Dietary behaviors; Fitness activities; Program acceptability by users

Detailed description: Obesity is a major and growing problem among U. S. Hispanics with serious implications for diabetes and other chronic disease risks. Current trends among youth suggest that disparities in obesity between minorities and non-Hispanic whites will amplify. Reducing such health disparities is a priority for federal, state and local governmental bodies and communities. Attaining these objectives will require interventions that are culturally- and linguistically appropriate. U. S. healthcare providers, however, have few culturally-appropriate tools and inadequate numbers of bilingual, trained healthcare professionals to address these challenges.

A culturally-appropriate weight-management portal, supported by bilingual Latina dietitians available for remote email counseling, offers an attractive mechanism for efficiently serving the underserved. MiDieta/MyDiet is the leading online diet, fitness and weight management portal for U. S. Hispanic/Latinos. MiDieta is bilingual (Spanish/English), based on Latino foods & habits and already available through dozens of media, hospital, and health plan websites. Thousands of Hispanics access MiDieta each week. Tommy Thompson recently selected MiDieta as one of the “20 most innovative health promotion and disease prevention applications” in the U. S.

Minimum eligible age: 18 Years. Maximum eligible age: 65 Years. Eligible gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- Women and men of Hispanic origin born in Mexico, Central or South America or the United States

- Between 18 and 65 years of age

- BMI >/= 24. 85

- Otherwise “healthy” individuals (lack of major medical/psychiatric/ or chronic problems/disease)

- Not participating in other weight loss treatment programs and not planning on it for at least 12-16 more months

- Internet access at least once per week

- Fluent Spanish speakers

- The participant has the ability to engage in at least light activity (walking, etc)

Exclusion Criteria:

- The participant has a history of major medical or psychiatric problems

- Diagnosis with pre-diabetes, Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes

- The participant is pregnant or planning a pregnancy within the next 16 months

- The participant is unable to participate in any exercise regimen

- The participant is currently participating in MiDieta

- The participant is currently participating in other weight loss programs or plans to in the next 12-16 months

Jessica L Malmad, Phone: 770-649-0298, Ext: 119, Email: jmalmad@hispanicare.com

DrTango, Inc., Roswell, Georgia 30076, United States; Recruiting
Dirk G Schroeder, ScD, MPH, Principal Investigator

Start date: September 2004
End date: April 2007
Last updated: September 6, 2006