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Testing a tailored weight management program for veterans with PTSD: The MOVE! + UP randomized controlled trial.
Katherine D Hoerster1, Lamont Tanksley2, Nadiyah Sulayman3
1VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle Division, Mental Health Service; 1660 South Columbian Way (S-116), Seattle, WA 98108, United States; VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle Division, Health Services Research and Development, 1660 South Columbian Way (S-152), Seattle, WA 98108, United States; University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 100 NE 45(th) Street, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105; United States.
A new weight management program, MOVE! + UP, was developed for Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This program integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to address PTSD barriers, aiming for better weight loss outcomes in this population.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral health
- Weight management
- Military health
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in Veterans and linked to higher Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Standard weight management programs like MOVE! show less effectiveness for individuals with PTSD.
- PTSD symptoms can hinder physical activity and dietary adherence, crucial for weight loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and pilot the MOVE! + UP program, a novel behavioral weight management intervention tailored for Veterans with PTSD.
- To assess the efficacy of MOVE! + UP in improving weight loss and reducing PTSD symptoms compared to standard care.
Main Methods:
- A hybrid type 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 164 Veterans with BMI ≥ 25 receiving PTSD care.
- Participants were randomized to either MOVE! + UP (16 group sessions with CBT and community walks, plus dietitian sessions) or standard MOVE! care.
- Primary outcome is absolute change in weight at 6 months; secondary outcomes include weight at 12 months and PTSD symptom severity at 6 and 12 months.
Main Results:
- This section is for results, which are not yet available as the study is being conducted.
- The study aims to compare weight changes and PTSD symptom severity between the two groups.
- Exploratory analyses will examine physical activity, eating behaviors, and social support.
Conclusions:
- MOVE! + UP has the potential to be an effective intervention for simultaneously addressing physical and mental health in Veterans with PTSD.
- Successful implementation could offer an efficient approach to improve health outcomes for this population.
- Further research is needed to confirm the long-term effectiveness and scalability of the program.
