Completed Projects
Ready SET Health
The goal of this trial was to examine how life stressors, psychological distress, sleep and cognitive function contribute to the benefit emerging adult women 18-25 years of age receive in a gold standard lifestyle intervention.
VITAL
This multi-site clinical trial tested the efficacy of a new WW digital weight loss and wellness program for individuals living with type 2 diabetes.
Publications
· Apolzan JW, LaRose JG, Anton SD, Beyl RA, Greenway FL, Wickham EP, Lanoye A, Harris MN, Martin CK, Bullard T, Foster GD, Cardel MI. A scalable, virtual weight management program tailored for adults with type 2 diabetes: effects on glycemic control. Nutr Diabetes. 2023;13(1):3. doi: 10.1038/s41387-023-00234-6.
The BMI Project
This study tested a treatment program aimed at improving health and well-being among emerging adults ages 18-25. Participants attended 12 virtual group sessions over 4 months, focusing on nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and emotional well-being. Data collection for this project is completed and we hope to be able to present the results soon!
HER2
The HER2 study aimed to better understand how daily experiences of racism influenced eating behaviors and risk for cardiometabolic disease for young African American women.
Publications:
· Brown KL, Graham AK, Perera R, LaRose JG. Eating to cope: Advancing our understanding of the effects of exposure to racial discrimination on maladaptive eating behaviors. Int J Eat Disord. 2022;55(12):1744-1752. doi: 10.1002/eat.23820.
· Brown KL, Hines AL, Hagiwara N, Utsey S, Perera R, LaRose JG. The weight of racial discrimination: Examining the association between racial discrimination and change in adiposity among emerging adult women enrolled in a behavioral weight loss program. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2022;9(3):909-920. doi: 10.1007/s40615-021-01030-7.
ACTIVATE
The ACTIVATE study tested a self-guided lifestyle program for young men ages 18-35. Participants were randomized into either an immediate or delayed group, both receiving resources to improve health.
Publications
· Reading JM, Crane MM, Guan J, Jackson R, Thomson MD, LaRose JG. Acceptability of a self-guided lifestyle intervention for young men: A mixed methods analysis of a pilot trial. JMIR Form Res. 2024;8:e53841. doi: 10.2196/53841.
· Reading JM, Crane MM, Carlyle K, Perera RA, LaRose JG. A self-guided weight loss program for young men: Findings from the ACTIVATE randomized pilot trial. J Men’s Health. 2022;18(9):191. doi: 10.31083/j.jomh1809191.
The REACH Trial
The REACH Trial tested three unique life style interventions for 18-25 year-olds in order to understand how we can best help Richmond Emerging Adults Choose Health!
Publications
· LaRose JG, Leahey TM, Lanoye A, Bean MK, Fava JL, Tate DF, Evans RK, Wickham EP, Henderson MM. Effect of a lifestyle intervention on cardiometabolic health among emerging adults: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(9):e2231903. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.31903.
· LaRose JG, Reading JM, Lanoye A, Brown KL. Recruitment and retention of emerging adults in lifestyle interventions: Findings from the REACH randomized clinical trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2022;121:106904. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106904.
· Lanoye A, Evans RK, Leahey TM, LaRose JG. Using measured resting metabolic rate to derive calorie prescriptions in a behavioral weight loss program. Obes Sci Pract. 2021;7(3):335-338. doi: 10.1002/osp4.489.
· Lanoye A, LaRose JG. Social jetlag and emerging adults’ performance in a behavioral weight loss trial. Emerg Adulthood. 2020;10(3):660-666. doi: 10.1177/2167696820982439.
· LaRose JG, Leahey TM, Lanoye A, Bean MK, Tate DF, Fava JL, Evans RK, Wickham EP, Henderson MM, Hatley K, Diamond M. Behavioral weight loss in emerging adults: Design and rationale for the Richmond Emerging Adults Choosing Health (REACH) randomized clinical trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2021;107:106426. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106426.
Wellness Engagement (WE) Trial
This was a community-based participatory research project grounded in Petersburg residents’ desire to address obesity as a risk factor for numerous other chronic diseases. In partnership with residents and key community partners, we conducted capacity building activities, asset mapping, surveys, and interviews. This was followed by a collaborative process to adapt evidence informed lifestyle interventions based on community identified assets, needs and preferences. The final phase included a pilot test of the resulting multilevel intervention.
Publications:
· Mosavel M, Henderson A, Beck-Berman R, Ferrell D, LaRose JG. The WE Project partnership: The role and scope of community researchers. Collaborations: A Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice. 2022;5(1):3. doi: http://doi.org/10.33596/coll.87.
· LaRose JG, Lanoye A, Ferrell D, Lu J, Mosavel M. Translating evidence-based behavioral weight loss into a multi-level, community intervention within a community-based participatory research framework: The Wellness Engagement (WE) Project Petersburg. Translational Behavioral Medicine. 2021;11(6):1235-1243. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibaa140.
· Mosavel M, Ferrell D, LaRose JG, Lu J, Winship J. Conducting a community “street survey” to inform an obesity intervention: The WE
Project. Fam Community Health. 2020;44(3):117-125. doi: 10.1097/FCH.0000000000000271.
· Mosavel M, Winship J, Ferrell D, LaRose JG. Data dissemination in CBPR: Accountability and responsiveness. Collaborations: A Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice. 2019;2(1):11. doi: 10.33596/coll.33.
· Mosavel MM, Ferrell D, LaRose JG. House chats as a grassroots engagement methodology in community-based participatory research: The WE Project Petersburg. Prog Community Health Partnersh. 2016; 10(3):391-400. doi: 10.1353/cpr.2016.0046.
Thinking Breast Cancer
This survey study aimed to explore cancer-related cognitive impairment (e.g., memory and attention issues) in breast cancer survivors, as well as their preferences for treatment. Data collection is complete, and results will be shared soon
Anxiety, Mood, and Health Study
This study explored the relationship between anxiety, health, and mood among young adults. Participants were randomly assigned to either a walking intervention or a control group in order to learn more about how exercise affects interpretations of anxiety.
Publications:
· Lanoye A, Ryberczyk B, Evans R, Leahey T, LaRose JG. Pilot randomized clinical trial targeting anxiety sensitivity: Effects on physical activity in young adults. Cogn Behav Ther. 2022;51(3):257-271. doi: 10.1080/ 16506073.2021.1954082.
Live Well RVA tested a weight loss program adapted to emerging adults ages 18-25. The 12-week treatment program was designed to meet the unique needs of this age group and offered individual treatment with personalized goals and coaching specific to participants’ needs. Treatment involved a combination of individual in-person meetings and email and online contact.
Publications:
· LaRose JG, Gorin AA, Fava, JL, Bean MK, Lanoye A, Robinson E, Carey KB. Using motivational interviewing to enhance emerging adults’ engagement in weight loss: The Live Well RVA pilot randomized clinical trial. Obes Sci Pract. 2020;6(5):460-472. doi: 10.1002/osp4.435.
SPARK RVA tested different approaches to a weight loss and health behavior program for 18-25 year-olds. All groups received gold standard behavioral weight loss information based on decades of research – the key difference was the format of the intervention, or how the program was delivered. This pilot study is based on the formative work we conducted in Project SPEAK and findings helped us further tailor existing programs to meet the needs of this age group.
Publications
· LaRose JG, Tate DF, Lanoye A, Fava JL, Jelalian E, Blumenthal M, Caccavale LJ, Wing RR. Adapting evidence-based behavioral weight loss programs for emerging adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial. J Health Psychol. 2019;24(7):870-887. doi: 10.1177/1359105316688591.
Project SPEAK was a two-phase study involving an online survey and focus groups with 18-25 year olds to better understand facilitators and barriers to healthy lifestyle behaviors during this life stage. Findings helped inform ongoing treatment studies with this population.
Publications:
· LaRose JG, Morrow Guthrie K, Lanoye A, Tate DF, Robichaud E, Caccavale LJ, Wing RR. A mixed methods approach to improving recruitment and engagement of emerging adults in behavioral weight
loss programs. Obes Sci Pract. 2016;2(4):341-354. doi: 10.1002/osp4.71.