NCT02898844

Randomized Controlled Experiment of Dieting in Pairs

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 164 (actual)
• Sponsor: A. Janet Tomiyama · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study examined how dieting with a partner affects weight loss, diet adherence, psychological well-being, and cortisol.

Detailed description

The goal of this study was to understand how different types of diet "buddy systems" affect diet success and outcomes related to dieting. Pairs of non-romantic cohabiting female dyads (i.e. roommates) were randomly assigned to one of the following three-week manipulations: (a) neither roommate dieted, (b) one roommate was assigned to a 1200-calorie/day diet and the other ate normally, (c) both roommates were assigned to a 1200-calorie/day diet. Both pre- and post diet, participants were weighted and measured, filled out psychological questionnaires, and provided two days of diurnal salivary cortisol samples. During the three-week manipulation period, participants who were assigned to diet recorded all calories consumed on each day. This study tested whether dieting in a pair would lead to improved diet outcomes in terms of adherence and weight loss, changes in psychological well-being, and changes in cortisol.

Conditions

• Dietary Modification

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Mixed Diet Condition	One roommate dieted and the other ate normally.
BEHAVIORAL	Both Diet Condition	Both roommates dieted.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-10-01
• Primary completion: 2014-12-01
• Completion: 2014-12-01
• First posted: 2016-09-13
• Last updated: 2016-09-13