Principal Investigator: Amy Gorin, Ph.D.

Brief Overview

This behavioral weight control program modifies both the physical and social home environment of weight loss participants and provides participants with other effective weight loss techniques.

Population

Overweight and obese adult men and women

Core Components of Intervention

• Mode of Delivery and Duration:  Face-to-face groups conducted weekly for 6 months, bi-weekly for an additional 12 months by 2 master’s level facilitators
• Setting:  Clinic, supplemented by take home materials (Rhode Island)
• Theoretical Basis:  Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 2001) and Social Ecological theories of behavior change (e.g., Breslow, 1996)
• Materials Available:  Upon request

Evidence

Participants were 201 overweight and obese adults.  A randomized controlled trial compared the LEAP program—consisting of standard behavioral treatment plus direct manipulations of the physical and social home environment to a control (i.e., standard behavioral treatment).  Participants in LEAP lost significantly more weight at a 6-month follow-up compared to those in the control condition.  Participants in the LEAP program also demonstrated greater improvements to their physical home environment (e.g., presence of healthy cooking magazines, exercise equipment visible), greater amounts of low-fat foods in their homes, and greater social support compared to participants in the control condition (Gorin et al., under review).

Implementation History

None.

Contact Info

Amy Gorin, Ph.D.
2006 Hillside Road, U-1248
Storrs, CT 06269
Phone: 860.486.5670
Email: amy.gorin@uconn.edu