The ADOPT Study
Recruitment is now closed for the ADOPT study.
About the program
ADOPT (Alternative Dietary Approaches Online to Promote Tracking) is a free nutrition program with a focus on weight loss brought to you by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that is designed to help young adults adopt healthy eating habits. The 3-month program will be remotely delivered using a mobile-optimized website and weekly emails. You will also receive personalized feedback on your weight and eating behaviors. This program has been developed using evidence from other successful weight control programs that have been conducted at the UNC Weight Research Program.
The ADOPT program is also a research study. One of the main goals of the research study is to compare two different ways of tracking dietary intake to determine which one leads to better diet quality and weight loss, and which one young adults enjoy the most. This means that the ADOPT study has two different study groups. You will be assigned to one of those groups randomly, or by chance – meaning that you can’t pick which group you want to be in. In order to participate, you must be willing to be in either of the groups.
If you enroll, you will be one of approximately 75 young adults participating in the program.
Am I eligible?
You may be eligible if you:
Are currently age 18-35
Have a body mass index between 25 and 50 (use calculator to the right)
Own a smartphone with a data plan
Own a bathroom scale or are willing to purchase a bathroom scale
*Additional eligibility criteria apply.
What will I do in the program?
The ADOPT program uses a simplified and personalized approach to healthy eating. You will track your dietary intake using a mobile-optimized website to help you make positive changes in your diet. You’ll also use a bathroom scale to weigh yourself regularly. You will receive personalized feedback that will help you stay on track with your weight and dietary goals.
All participants will be asked to complete online questionnaires and two online dietary assessments and to self-report your weight online at the start of the study and after 3 months. Participants will need to attend a virtual group session with other participants on Zoom where you’ll get set up to begin the program. This study will be conducted entirely remotely and there will be no in-person visits required for this study.
What are the benefits of participating in the program?
Research shows that young adulthood is associated with poor dietary habits and vulnerability to weight gain. You may benefit from the program by adopting a healthier diet that could result in weight loss.
Throughout the program you may also benefit by receiving:
Professional expertise (health educators, nutritionists, psychologists) and information to help you adopt strategies for making changes in your eating
Messages that give you feedback and strategies to help meet your weight and dietary goals
Personalized feedback on your overall progress
This information is provided to you free of charge as a participant in the ADOPT study. You will receive $25 for completing the 3-month assessment.
CONTACT US
If you would like to learn more about the ADOPT study, please contact us at (919) 962-8925 or email adoptstudy@unc.edu.
This study has been reviewed by the IRB (Study # 20-0491). If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject, or if you would like to obtain information or offer input, you may contact the Institutional Review Board at 919-966-3113 or by email to IRB_subjects@unc.edu.