Weight loss among women and men in the ASPIRE‐VA behavioral weight loss intervention trial

OBJECTIVE: Weight loss was examined among women and men veterans in a clinical trial comparing Aspiring for Lifelong Health (ASPIRE), a "small changes" weight loss program using either mixed-sex group-visit or telephone-based coaching, to MOVE!(®) , the usual mixed-sex group-based program. METHODS: Linear mixed-effects models were used to calculate adjusted percent weight change at 12 months by sex and compare outcomes across arms within sex. RESULTS: Analyses included 72 women (ASPIRE-Phone = 26; ASPIRE-Group = 26; MOVE! = 20) and 409 men (ASPIRE-Phone = 136; ASPIRE-Group = 134; MOVE! = 139). At 12 months, women displayed significant weight loss from baseline in ASPIRE-Group (-2.6%) and MOVE! (-2.7%), but not ASPIRE-Phone (+0.2%). Between-arm differences in weight change among women were: ASPIRE-Group versus ASPIRE-Phone, -2.8% (P = 0.15); MOVE! versus ASPIRE-Phone, -2.8% (P = 0.20); and ASPIRE-Group versus MOVE!, 0.0% (P = 1.0). At 12 months, men lost significant weight from baseline across arms (ASPIRE-Phone, -1.5%; ASPIRE-Group, -2.5%; MOVE!, -1.0%). Between-arm differences in weight change among men were: ASPIRE-Group versus ASPIRE-Phone, -0.9% (P = 0.23); MOVE! versus ASPIRE-Phone, +0.5% (P = 0.76); ASPIRE-Group versus MOVE!, -1.5% (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Mixed-sex, group-based programs can result in weight loss for both women and men veterans.