A Pilot Study of the Nutrition and Exercise for Wellness and Recovery (NEW-R): A Weight Loss Program for Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses (vol 38, pg 371, 2015)

Objective: This purpose of this study was to evaluate the Nutrition and Exercise for Wellness and Recovery (NEW-R) weight loss intervention. Method: Using a pretest/posttest design, 18 participants recruited from a community-based mental health program were assessed at baseline, immediately following the intervention (8 weeks), and at 6-month follow-up. The intervention was delivered by an occupational therapist and occupational therapy graduate students and consisted of 8 weekly sessions lasting 2 hr. Outcomes included changes in weight, and levels of knowledge about nutrition and exercise. Results: Participants lost an average of 3 pounds at immediate postintervention, and lost an average of 10 pounds at the 6-month follow-up. Participants also demonstrated significant increases in their knowledge about nutrition and physical activity. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The results of this study provide preliminary support for the impact of the NEW-R intervention on weight loss and knowledge about diet and exercise.