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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Sep 15;15(18):3998.
doi: 10.3390/nu15183998.

Effect of a Telephone-Based Lifestyle Intervention on Weight, Body Composition, and Metabolic Biomarkers in Rural Ohio: Results from a Randomized Pilot Study

Xiaochen Zhang  1   2   3 , Victoria R DeScenza  4 , Zachary L Chaplow  5 , Megan Kilar  5 , Jessica Bowman  5 , Alex Buga  5 , Madison L Kackley  5 , Abigail B Shoben  6 , Ashley S Felix  2 , Electra D Paskett  1 , Brian C Focht  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of a Telephone-Based Lifestyle Intervention on Weight, Body Composition, and Metabolic Biomarkers in Rural Ohio: Results from a Randomized Pilot Study

Xiaochen Zhang et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Rural residents experience higher rates of obesity, obesity-related chronic diseases, and poorer lifestyle. Promoting physical activity and healthy eating are critical for rural residents; however, lack of resources and access barriers limit the feasibility of in-person lifestyle interventions. There is a need to design and deliver remotely accessible lifestyle interventions in this population. This pilot study examined the effect of a telephone-based lifestyle intervention on weight, body composition, lipids, and inflammatory biomarkers among rural Ohio residents. Rural Ohio adults with overweight/obesity (n = 40) were 2:1 randomized to a 15-week telephone-based lifestyle intervention (n = 27) or control group (n = 13). The lifestyle intervention group received weekly telephone counseling sessions emphasizing healthy eating and increasing physical activity. The control group received educational brochures describing physical activity and dietary recommendations. Weight, body composition, fasting blood lipids, and inflammatory biomarkers were objectively measured at baseline and 15 weeks at local community centers (trial registration#: NCT05040152 at ClinicalTrial.gov). Linear mixed models were used to examine change over time by group. Participants were mostly female, with an average age of 49 years. Over the 15-week trial, the lifestyle intervention showed superior improvements in total cholesterol (∆ = -18.7 ± 7.8 mg/dL, p = 0.02) and LDL (∆ = -17.1 ± 8.1 mg/dL, p = 0.04) vs. control, whereas no significant between-group differences in weight, body composition, or inflammation were observed. Our findings suggest that a 15-week telephone-based lifestyle intervention may offer metabolic benefits that reduce disease risk in rural adults with obesity. Future large-scale studies are needed to determine the efficacy of remotely accessible lifestyle interventions in rural populations, with the goal of reducing obesity-related disparities.

Keywords: health disparities; metabolic biomarkers; obesity; remote; rural; weight loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

Electra Paskett would like to disclose that she has grant funding for work outside of this project from the Merck Foundation, Genentech, and Pfizer. The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
HERO Study CONSORT Diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Body weight and BMI at baseline and change over 15 weeks. ∆: change.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Lipid profiles at baseline and change over 15 weeks. ∆: change.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Lipid profiles at baseline and change over 15 weeks. ∆: change.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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