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UF Health University of Florida

Health Promotion Lab

College of Public Health and Health Professions

Projects

Current Projects

Project STAR (R01DK119244; PI: Ross, KM)

Project STAR logo

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We are looking for adults (aged 18 to 70) who live within driving distance of Gainesville, FL, and who are interested in taking part in a 16-week lifestyle weight loss program followed by a 20-month smartphone-based support program designed to help maintain weight loss.

Who is Eligible?

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • Are between the ages of 18 and 70
  • Have no serious medical illnesses
  • Are able to attend weekly group meetings for 16 weeks
  • Own an Apple or Android smartphone
  • Have a weight (in pounds) within the ranges below:

height and weight chart

Program details

How long will the program last?

  • The initial weight loss program lasts for 16 weeks (4 months)
  • The smartphone-based weight loss maintenance program last for 20 months
  • In total, your participation would last for 24 months (2 years)

What will I get for taking part?

If you are eligible and decide to take part, you will receive:

  • Access to our no-cost weight loss program
  • Compensation for completing study-related follow-up appointments

Where does the program take place?

The weight loss program and all study visits will occur at the University of Florida
(Gainesville campus).

If you are interested, please call us at 1-352-273-5235 or email us at ProjectSTAR@phhp.ufl.edu

Identification and Prediction of High-Risk Periods for Regain after Weight Loss (R21DK109205; PI: Ross, KM)

Using a rich longitudinal dataset collected during and after a 12-week, Internet-based behavioral weight management program, Dr. Ross (along with collaborators Dr. Peihua Qiu and Dr. Rena Wing) are conducting analyses to identify and predict the “high-risk” periods for weight regain. Specifically, they have received funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to identify the “change points” at which individuals change from a weight loss/weight maintenance trajectory to weight regain, and to then identify the factors that proximally predict these shifts. The results of this study will provide the empirical foundation for the development of a just-in-time adaptive intervention for weight loss maintenance.