Mobile health plus community health worker support for weight management among public housing residents (Path to Health): A randomized controlled trial protocol

Interventions delivered by mobile devices (mHealth interventions) have the potential to increase access to weight management treatment in low-income populations. However, little prior research has examined effects of mHealth programming plus phone-based community health worker (CHW) support for weight management among public housing residents. For our intervention, we first interacted with a community advisory board to collect feedback on proposed intervention components. Transcripts from 5 advisory board meetings were coded and qualitative data was organized into themes. We used these data to inform our ongoing trial, in which public housing residents are randomized to one of three different groups: phone text messaging and digital self weighing (mHealth only); mHealth intervention plus CHW behavioral phone counseling (mHealth+CHW); or assessment only to evaluate their differential effects on weight loss at 6-and 12-month follow-up. We will examine changes in diet and physical activity behaviors as well as potential mediating and moderating factors. Results of this trial could provide support for technology-based weight management interventions which may have greater potential for scalability and long-term dissemination than face-to-face programming.