# Efficacy of two novel behavioral post-cessation weight gain interventions

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCI CTR · 2020 · $627,842

## Abstract

While smoking cessation leads to significant improvements in mortality and morbidity, weight gain post-
cessation partially attenuates this benefit. Furthermore, concerns about postcessation weight gain are common
and are often cited as a reason to delay cessation attempts. In addition, postcessation weight gain is
associated with smoking relapse. Thus, although the health benefits of smoking cessation outweigh the
negative impact of weight gain, ideally there would be intervention “packages” that would not require that
people choose between smoking cessation and nontrivial weight gain. Thus, in the proposed study, we will
determine whether two very promising methods of reducing postcessation weight gain, namely a weight
stability intervention (based on the evidence-based Stability Skills First intervention) versus a weight loss
intervention (based on the evidence-based Look AHEAD intensive lifestyle intervention) followed by a smoking
cessation intervention are efficacious for reducing postcessation weight gain. We will randomize 400 smokers
to one of three arms: a) a weight stability intervention prior to cessation (STABLE); b) a weight loss intervention
prior to cessation (LOSS), or c) a bibliotherapy comparison condition prior to cessation (BIBLIO) and to
determine the efficacy of the interventions on preventing weight gain at 12 month follow-up. All three conditions
receive a highly efficacious in-person smoking cessation behavioral intervention and six months of Varenicline
(ChantixTM) pharmacotherapy. Those participants randomized to the STABLE and LOSS conditions will
receive monthly booster weight management sessions, after completing the behavioral smoking cessation
intervention. The primary outcomes will be weight change and smoking cessation at 12 month follow-up. In
addition, we will gather process data on mediators of treatment outcome via measures of treatment
engagement (e.g., session attendance, varenicline utilization). We will be able to determine whether a weight
stability intervention or a weight loss intervention is efficacious in reducing post-cessation weight gain. The
intervention results, if successful, could be disseminated and make a significant contribution towards curtailing
obesity in this vulnerable population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9971519
- **Project number:** 5R01DK107747-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen J Derefinko
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $627,842
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-05 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9971519

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9971519, Efficacy of two novel behavioral post-cessation weight gain interventions (5R01DK107747-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9971519. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*