What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 180 patients with obesity. The study was sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
Adding cash penalties to a game-like fitness app helped veterans walk 1,200 more steps daily.
JAMA network open · 2021 · NCT03563027
These findings — that game features plus weekly cash penalties increased daily walking vs. basic trackers — were published in the JAMA network open and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 180 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with obesity, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Game-like fitness apps with social support and financial penalties can help increase daily walking in the short term, but the effect may not last once the program ends. If you're interested in digital tools for weight management, ask your doctor about structured programs that include accountability features.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open obesity trials
Resistance Training to Prevent Muscle Loss During Treatment With Tirzepatide
Incretin-based pharmacotherapies induce significant weight loss and represent a paradigm shift in obesity treatment. However, particularly fast weight loss may be accompanied by a significant loss of muscle mass, which is associated with a reduced metabolic rate at rest and during physical activity, increased insulin resistance, limited mobility, and potential long-term adverse effects. The aim of this clinical trial is to examine the effects of resistance training versus standard of care on contractile thigh muscle volume in patients receiving the dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists 'tirzepatide'.
Knee Injections for Obese Patients With Knee Arthritis
The purpose of this study is to assess obese patients with knee arthritis and determine the non-inferiority of a low dose steroid treatment vs. standard dose steroid treatment for two knee outcome measures: pain and function.