NCT03423238

Targeting Obesity to Optimize Health in Cardiac Rehab (TOPCARE)

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 38 (actual)
• Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Although coronary heart disease (CHD) treatment guidelines recognize obesity as a major modifiable risk factor,2 nearly half of all CHD patients are obese and the current standard of care fails to implement evidence-based obesity treatment for this high-risk population. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that weight loss improves outcomes in CHD patients. The primary goal of this study is to determine the feasibility of adding a 6-month behavioral weight loss intervention to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation.

Detailed description

Although coronary heart disease (CHD) treatment guidelines recognize obesity as a major modifiable risk factor,2 nearly half of all CHD patients are obese and the current standard of care fails to implement evidence-based obesity treatment for this high-risk population. The efficacy of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for improving exercise capacity and CHD risk factors is markedly blunted in CHD patients with obesity. Current programs largely focus on nutrient intake and produce minimal weight loss, on average. Our data show that despite appropriate exercise prescription and adherence, only 22% of CHD patients with obesity lose even the minimum recommended body weight over a 3-month program. These findings indicate that targeting reductions in caloric intake is needed to optimize outcomes in these patients and suggest that current programs are too short to produce adequate weight loss and ensure the necessary behavioral adaptations for long-term maintenance. Randomization to diet-induced weight loss in combination with aerobic exercise improves exercise capacity, quality of life, and CHD risk factors more than exercise alone and reduces long-term mortality in overweight and obese adults. The primary goal of this study is to determine the feasibility of adding a 6-month behavioral weight loss intervention to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation.

Conditions

• Obesity
• Weight Loss
• CHD - Coronary Heart Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Exercise	Each exercise session lasts for 60 to 90 minutes and consists of 5-10 minutes of warm-up and cool-down activity; up to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise using a variety of modalities (e.g., walking laps on a track, cycle ergometry, treadmills, stair climbers); and 15-20 minutes of upper and lower body resistance exercises using Thera-Bands. An exercise physiologist creates an individualized plan
BEHAVIORAL	Health Education	Group education classes conducted by an exercise physiologist and/or dietitian are designed to provide support and general information on healthy lifestyle behaviors. Topics include risk factor control, diabetes, hypertension, lipids, medications, aerobic exercise, strength training and flexibility, weight control, reading food nutrition labels, eating out, holiday eating, intimacy, stress, relaxation, cardiac symptoms, and cardiac interventions.
OTHER	Exercise Compliance	Multiple behavioral management strategies to create a positive exercise environment and promote adherence and retention will be utilized. These include promptly contacting participants who miss a session, scheduling makeup sessions, and offering individual counseling sessions to discuss strategies to promote attendance and limit obstacles to participation.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Calorie-Restricted Diet	Diet plans will provide a caloric deficit of 500 kcals per day. The lowest calorie level permitted will be 1,100 kcals for women and 1,200 kcals for men. The calorie distribution goal will be 15-20% from protein, \<30% from fat, and 45-60% from carbohydrates. Participants will consume 2 meal replacements per day (Premier Protein shakes and bars); provided by the study)), along with one meal composed of traditional foods (500-750 kcals, low in fat, high in vegetables), and 1-3 snacks as needed (e.g., cereal bar, fruit, or vegetable, providing 100-150 kcals each). For the meal, patients will follow a weekly menu plan and recipes provided by the study. The food plan will be tailored to individual preferences and energy needs.
BEHAVIORAL	Behavioral Modification	During months 1-3, participants will attend weekly individual behavioral counseling sessions with the study registered dietitian (RD); individual sessions will be held twice per month during months 4-6. The sessions will focus on self-monitoring, portion control, mindful eating, coping with negative thoughts, eating at regular times, and stress management. The RD will review individual progress, solve problems, answer questions, and set weight loss goals.
OTHER	Weight-Loss Compliance	Participants will be asked to record their food and beverage intake in daily logs which will be reviewed weekly by the RD to verify compliance to the diet. Body weight will be measured weekly to ensure that participants are losing weight at an appropriate rate. If a participant is not meeting weight loss goals, energy intake will be modified accordingly to produce the desired rate of weight loss.
OTHER	Dietary Counseling	Participants have one meeting with the Rehab dietitian upon starting.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-03-21
• Primary completion: 2020-04-10
• Completion: 2020-04-10
• First posted: 2018-02-06
• Last updated: 2021-11-23
• Results posted: 2021-11-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States