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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Feb:137:107412.
doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2023.107412. Epub 2023 Dec 16.

Promotion of Successful Weight Management in Overweight and Obese Veterans (POWER-VET): Trial Design and Methods

Monica C Serra  1 , Heidi K Ortmeyer  2 , Alice S Ryan  3 ; POWER-VET Project Team
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Promotion of Successful Weight Management in Overweight and Obese Veterans (POWER-VET): Trial Design and Methods

Monica C Serra et al. Contemp Clin Trials. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Almost 75% of US adults are overweight or obese. Though intentional weight loss of as little as 3% improves physical functioning and reduces cardiometabolic risk, most adults are unsuccessful at long-term weight maintenance. Our hypothesis is that intermittent fasting (IF: short periods of intense energy restriction) will reduce weight regain. IF may combat obesity due to its effects on nutrient-sensing signaling pathways and circadian rhythm. The objective of this randomized clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of an intensive body weight management program with and without IF.

Methods: In the Promotion of Successful Weight Management in Overweight and Obese Veterans (POWER-VET) trial (NCT04131647), 154 middle-aged and older adults (50-75 years) who are overweight and obese (BMI: 25-40 kg/m2) and seen at either a Baltimore, MD or San Antonio, TX Veterans Affairs Medical Center will be enrolled. Participants will undergo 12 weeks of weight loss (including a low-calorie heart healthy (HH) diet and exercise). Following weight loss, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two 24-week weight maintenance (WM) interventions: WM alone (continuation of HH diet and exercise) or WM + IF. The primary aim is to determine the effect of WM + IF compared to WM alone on body weight maintenance after intentional weight loss.

Discussion: Determining effective, translatable strategies that minimize weight regain following successful weight loss holds public health relevance. This POWER-VET trial introduces an innovative practice of IF to prevent weight regain after clinically significant weight reduction and could provide evidence-based recommendations to promote this type of intervention in middle aged and older adults.

Keywords: Aging; Exercise; Intermittent fasting; Obesity; Weight management.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.. Study design.
* Number of Veterans split equally between Baltimore and San Antonio VA sites
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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