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Introduction
The PROPEL (Promoting Successful Weight Loss in Primary Care in Louisiana) trial was a cluster-randomized weight loss trial, specifically tailored to address the pressing health concerns of an underserved population in Louisiana, where obesity rates have reached alarming levels.
The core of the intervention comprises a pragmatic, high-intensity lifestyle-based obesity treatment program, thoughtfully designed to be integrated within primary care settings. Over a 24-month duration, this multi-component weight loss program is delivered by skilled health coaches who are embedded in primary care clinics, with the aim of instigating substantial and sustainable weight loss outcomes.
In this study, 803 participants were enrolled, of whom 67% identified as Black and 84% as female, thereby ensuring a diverse representation. The research design randomized 18 clinics, allocating them equally into two groups: usual care and an Intensive Lifestyle Intervention (ILI). The usual care group continued to receive their customary primary care, serving as the benchmark against which the ILI’s efficacy will be measured.
In this episode we have the opportunity to delve deeper into the intricacies of the PROPEL trial and gain insights from one of its lead researchers, Dr. John Apolzan of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Related resources
- Join the Sigma newsletter for free
- Subscribe to Sigma Nutrition Premium
- Become a member of Alan Flanagan’s Alinea Nutrition Education Hub
- Related publications:
- Katzmarzyk et al., 2020 – Weight Loss in Underserved Patients — A Cluster-Randomized Trial
- Background to PROPEL – Contemp Clin Trials. 2018 Apr; 67: 1–10.
- Hochsmann et al., 2021- Effects of a 2-Year Primary Care Lifestyle Intervention on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors
- Apolzan et al., 2023 – Dietary intake during a pragmatic cluster-randomized weight loss trial in an underserved population in primary care
- Overview of PROPEL Trial
- 2013 Obesity Guidelines
- Culturally-Appropriate & Health Literacy-Appropriate Intervention
- Results
- Dietary Intake
- Mediators of Weight Change
- Direction of Future Research & Practice
Guest Information
Click through to your app of choice to listen and subscribe:
Dr. Apolzan is a nutrition scientist whose research interests involve overseeing and managing human clinical intervention trials examining nutritional, physical activity, and body weight outcomes across the lifespan. He has significant experience in the development and oversight of clinic-based and mHealth interventions.
He has been part of important trials such as CALERIE (Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy), Diabetes Prevention Program, and PROPEL (Promoting Successful Weight Loss in Primary Care in Louisiana).
Danny Lennon has a master’s degree (MSc.) in Nutritional Sciences from University College Cork, and he is the founder of Sigma Nutrition.
Danny is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Sports Nutrition Association, the global regulatory body responsible for the standardisation of best practice in the sports nutrition profession.
Introduction to this Episode
The PROPEL (Promoting Successful Weight Loss in Primary Care in Louisiana) trial was a cluster-randomized weight loss trial specifically tailored to address the pressing health concerns of an underserved population in Louisiana, where obesity rates have reached alarming levels.
The core of the intervention comprises a pragmatic, high-intensity lifestyle-based obesity treatment program, thoughtfully designed to be integrated within primary care settings.
Over a 24-month duration, this multi-component weight loss program is delivered by skilled health coaches who are embedded in primary care clinics, with the aim of instigating substantial and sustainable weight loss outcomes.
In this study, 803 participants were enrolled, of whom 67% identified as Black and 84% as female, thereby ensuring a diverse representation.
The research design randomized 18 clinics, allocating them equally into two groups:
- Usual care
- Intensive Lifestyle Intervention (ILI)
The usual care group continued to receive their customary primary care, serving as the benchmark against which the ILIʼs efficacy will be measured.
In this episode we have the opportunity to delve deeper into the intricacies of the PROPEL trial and gain insights from one of its lead researchers, Dr. John Apolzan of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Connection to Previous Episodes
#489: Inequalities in Diabetes Outcomes for African & Caribbean Communities – Prof. Louise Goff
- One of the relevant aspects of episode 489 to the current one is the focus on the need for culturally-appropriate advice and interventions.
- Goffʼs work noted differences in engagement with diabetes education services and self-management advice. And how this may be due to the fact that the delivery of information is not culturally relevant to those in African and Caribbean communities in the UK.
- Goff has attempted to address this by developing a culturally tailored self-management education and support program for type 2 diabetes in black-British adults.
- This program, called the Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles for Diabetes (HEAL-D) program, has initially been trialed with local Black African and Caribbean communities and healthcare providers in South London.
- You can find the episode page here.
