Tailored weight loss programs for adults with serious mental illness: 12-month follow-up of a randomized clinical trial of CoachToFit.

This study aimed to determine whether improvements among veterans at the end of a 6-month weight loss program tailored to those with serious mental illness (SMI) were maintained at 12 months. From 2021 to 2025, 256 veterans at the Pittsburgh VHA Medical Center who had SMI and were obese were randomized to either Usual Care or CoachToFit, which included weekly calls from a Veteran Health Administration peer specialist, a Bluetooth-enabled scale and fitness tracker, and a smartphone app that provides health education and tracks steps, goals, and weight. Participants' weight, body mass index, and meters walked in 6 min were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 months. CoachToFit participants had 1.88 times greater odds of being in a higher 5% weight loss category by 12 months (achieved never, achieved ever, sustained) compared to Usual Care and 2.34 times greater odds of reaching a higher category of 7% weight loss. Average weight loss and meters walked did not differ between groups at 12 months. A greater number of veterans with SMI who were obese achieved and sustained significant weight loss as a result of a peer-supported and tailored technology weight-management program, which may be a good option for this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).