Ongoing Projects - Spring 2021
EMPOWER Study
Chronic low back pain and overweight/obesity are highly comorbid and represent major public health concerns; however, interventions targeting this comorbidity are limited. EMPOWER is a single-arm pilot study examining the feasibility and acceptability of an integrated pain and weight management intervention for adults who are overweight/obese with moderate-to-high impact low back pain. Environmental reward and positive affect – key mechanisms that contribute to pain and excess weight – will be addressed and represent a novel approach with potential for improving the health of this at-risk population.
Provider Prescribing Pilot Project
The primary care setting has potential to connect patients with obesity and overweight to effective weight loss programs and tools. In a series of studies, the McVay lab alongside Dr. Jake-Schoffman's EXHALE lab are developing and testing a primary care-situated intervention focused on motivating and guiding patients to use empirically supported online tools for goal setting and self-monitoring, and online communities to support weight loss. The intervention is designed with implementation considerations in mind, and, if effective, has significant potential to be implemented within primary care practices to increase the number of adults with excess weight who achieve clinically meaningful weight loss.
STEADY
The vast majority of adults with obesity or are overweight decline comprehensive weight loss treatments when offered. These individuals are at high risk for additional weight gain and associated comorbidities, and may benefit form a weight gain prevention intervention. In STEADY, we are testing a weight gain prevention intervention among those who decline weight loss treatments that has great promise for public health impact owing to its potential for high effectiveness, low patient burden (which may enhance initial and sustained engagement), and low cost and complexity (which can enhance implementation in health care settings).