# Weight management for adults with mobility related disabilities

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $650,524

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Individuals with mobility related disabilities (MRDs) represent a sizeable and growing segment of the US adult
population, with high rates of obesity, and limited options for successful weight management. Adults with
MRDs face numerous barriers to weight management including the lack of affordable, accessible
transportation to attend on-site meetings or engage in physical activity (PA), lack of accessible exercise
facilities with accessible fitness equipment, and difficulty with food shopping and meal preparation. There is
virtually no information regarding the comparative effectiveness of methods of delivery for weight management
in adults with MRDs. We previously evaluated an enhanced version of the Stop Light Diet (eSLD =
SLD+portion controlled entrées and low calorie shakes) for weight management in adults with both intellectual
with MRDs. When prescribed in conjunction with a monthly behavioral intervention, delivered in an individual,
home visit format, the eSLD resulted in significantly greater weight loss at 6 and 12 mos. when compared with
a meal plan diet in adults with MRDs. Although these results are encouraging, alternative strategies to provide
weight management to larger numbers of adults with MRDs, potentially improve outcomes, and reduce costs,
are warranted. Therefore, we propose a two-arm randomized trial to compare body weight following weight
loss (6 mos.) and maintenance (18 mos.) between interventions delivered either remotely via group video
conferencing on a tablet computer to participants in their homes (GR), or during individual home visits (IH).
Both intervention arms will use an eSLD and self-monitor body weight using electronic scales. The GR arm will
include group behavioral counseling and group PA delivered remotely via video conferencing on a tablet
computer to participants in their homes, and use commercially available web-based applications for self-
monitoring/participant feedback for diet and PA. The IH arm will include behavioral counseling delivered during
individual home visits, a prescription for self-directed PA, and self-monitoring of diet and PA using conventional
paper and pencil self-reports. The primary aim will be to compare weight loss (0-6 mos.) between the two
interventions. We expect significantly greater weight loss in the GR compared with IH arm. Secondarily we will
compare mean weight loss from 0-18 mos., the proportion of participants achieving ≥ 5% weight loss from
baseline, changes in cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life, and conduct a cost analysis. In addition, we
will explore the influence of behavioral session attendance, compliance with the recommendations for diet
(energy intake, number of entrées /shakes, servings of fruits/vegetables), PA (min of moderate-vigorous PA,
min sedentary time), and self-monitoring of diet and PA, self-efficacy for dietary change and PA, dietary self-
regulation, social support for diet/PA, barriers to PA, sleep, and me...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9895801
- **Project number:** 5R01DK116669-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph E. Donnelly
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $650,524
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9895801

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9895801, Weight management for adults with mobility related disabilities (5R01DK116669-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9895801. Licensed CC0.

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