Table 2.

Overview of Weight Loss Interventions in Two Clinical Trials on Obesity and Breast Cancer Conducted as part of the Transdisciplinary Research in Energetics and Cancer (TREC) Center at the University of California, San Diego (2011–2016)

Key elements of the interventions	Diet Composition and Genetics: Effects on Weight, Inflammation and Biomarkers (n=234)	Obesity-Related Mechanisms and Mortality in Breast Cancer Survivors (n=340)
Participants	Non-diabetic obese women aged 21 and older with a BMI ≥30 k/m2 and ≤40 kg/m2.	Survivors of postmenopausal breast cancer with a BMI of ≥25 kg/m2.
Major theoretical foundations	The behavioral determinants model, which is based on social cognitive theory. This model posits there are personal, social, and physical environmental antecedents and consequences of behavior.	A stepwise, phased approach using strategies outlined by social cognitive theory that focus on (a) establishing a series of short-term goals and (b) reviewing performance on these goals in a way that builds self-efficacy.
Intervention goal	To lose ≥ 7% body weight	To lose ≥ 10% body weight
Intervention length	12 months	6 months
Intervention mode	Closed-groups of 12–15 women	Telephone counseling calls
Number of contacts	26 group meetings plus 16–24 counseling calls or email contacts	12 counseling calls plus 6 newsletters
Primary intervention goal	To promote a reduction in energy intake relative to expenditure, aiming for a deficit of 500–1000 kcal/day	To promote a caloric deficit of 500–1000 calories through a reduction in energy intake and an increase in energy expenditure.
Dietary intervention goals	Women randomized to: (i) a higher carbohydrate (65% energy), lower fat (20% energy) diet; (ii) a lower carbohydrate (45% energy), higher monounsaturated fat (35% energy) diet; or (iii) a walnut-rich, lower carbohydrate (45%), higher fat (35% of energy) diet.	Healthful changes such as consuming 5–9 servings/day vegetables and fruit, replacing refined grains with whole grains, choosing fish and legumes as a protein source, and replacing saturated fatty acids with monounsaturated fatty acids.
Physical activity goal	60 minutes per day of planned exercise at a moderate level of intensity	300 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise
Sample topics	Stimulus control & diet, using cognitive restructuring to overcome exercise barriers Self nurturing, goal setting, meal planning	Goal setting, meal planning (portion control) Moving more (>10,000 steps) Increasing fiber-rich foods Dining out
Measures of intervention adherence	Measured weight loss, 24-hour dietary recalls, and objective measures of physical activity energy expenditure (accelerometers, GPS, and heart rate monitor)	Measured weight loss and objective measures of physical activity energy expenditure (accelerometers and GPS)