CLINIC-BASED VS. HOME-BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR PREVENTING WEIGHT-GAIN IN MEN

Objective: Weight gain occurs frequently in men aged 25-40. This study compared the effectiveness of a clinic-based and a home-based interve ntion with a no-treatment control group in preventing this weight gain . Research Methods and Procedures: Men (n=67)-aged 25 to 40, sedentary , with a body mass index of 22 to 30, recruited from the University of Pittsburgh-were randomly assigned to 4-month treatments focused on in creasing aerobic exercise and reducing fat intake through a clinic-bas ed (CB) or a home-based (HB) program, or to a delayed-treatment contro l group. Subjects were reassessed at 4 months. Results: Adherence and outcome did not differ significantly between the CB and HB programs, e xcept that CB subjects recorded their food intake more frequently, and a greater number of CB subjects achieved a total of 120 miles of exer cise over the 4 months. Subjects in the two intervention conditions co mbined lost significantly more weight (-1.6 +/- 2.5 kg) than control s ubjects, who gained 0.2 +/- 1.9 kg (p<0.01); this effect of treatment was seen primarily in men with a body mass index of 27 to 30 (-2.7 kg for CB and HE combined vs. +1.5 kg for control). Treated subjects also had somewhat greater improvements in body composition, aerobic fitnes s, and weekly energy expenditure than controls, although these differe nces did not reach significance. Discussions: Both CB and HE intervent ion show promise in preventing weight gain in young men, especially in those who are slightly overweight. Larger studies, using more represe ntative samples of young men, appear warranted.