Common Questions

Below you will find answers to the most common questions you may have about the Fit for Duty program. If you cannot find the answer you are looking for, please contact us.

  • It’s great that you are at a healthy weight now. The Fit for Duty program can help you prevent weight gain that commonly occurs during young adulthood. Reasearch shows that the average young adult gains about 2 pounds per year between the ages of 18-35. That might not seem like a lot, but over time that adds up to 30 pounds or more during this time frame. In this program, you will learn how daily weighing and developing eating and activity habits can help you maintain a healthy weight.

  • The main goal of Fit for Duty is to help you prevent weight gain that commonly occurs in young adulthood. In this program, you will learn two different approaches to help you prevent weight gain. These approaches are called Small and Large Changes. Research from our own study of over 500 young adults, followed over 3 years, showed that both approaches work to prevent weight gain and may promote small weight losses. You will get to choose which approach you think will work best for you. If you want to lose 5-10 pounds, the Large Changes approach may be a better fit. If you want to lose more weight, it is possible if you continue to follow the Large Changes approach beyond the initial weight loss phase. However, the program's focus is preventing weight gain, long term by following the Small or Large Change approach.

Weight

  • In Fit for Duty, we will share two different approaches to making changes to your eating habits. These approaches are called Small and Large Changes. The Small Changes approach focuses on making some small tweaks to your eating each day without having to overhaul your entire lifestyle and is designed to be easy to maintain over time. In the Small Changes eating approach, you will be asked to make one small change to what or how much you eat or drink every day. The Large Changes approach is more intensive and focuses on shifting your eating behaviors for a shorter term (8-12 weeks of the year). In the Large Changes eating approach, you will be asked to meet a daily calorie goal to create a 5-10 pound weight loss buffer. You will get to choose the approach you think will work best for you. Our research has shown that both eating approaches are effective for preventing weight gain.  Whichever approach you choose for your diet, you will also be following for your activity.

  • In Fit for Duty, we will give you some general guidance for making healthy changes to your eating behaviors. However, we will not prescribe a specific diet. The purpose of this program is to meet you where you are and help you make changes in your current eating behaviors to help you prevent weight gain. 

Diet

  • In Fit for Duty, we will share two different approaches to making changes to your activity. In the Small Changes activity approach, you will make changes to your physical activity equivalent to getting 2,000 more steps each day. In the Large Changes approach, you will gradually increase your physical activity to at least 250 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week. If you choose Large Changes and you are already getting 250 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity every week, we will encourage you to maintain your activity level. You will get to choose which approach you think will work best for you. Our research has shown that both activity approaches are effective for preventing weight gain.  Whichever approach you choose for your activity, you will also be following for your diet.

  • In Fit for Duty, we will give you some general guidance for maintaining or increasing your activity (depending on your starting point). However, we will not provide specific exercise routines. The purpose of this program is to meet you where you are and help you make changes in your current physical activity routine to help you prevent weight gain. 

Exercise

  • While two years may seem like a long time, the goal of Fit for Duty is to help you develop and practice healthy eating and activity habits to prevent weight gain for the long-term. The purpose of the program is to offer you support to help you meet your healthy lifestyle goals in a way that is convenient to you.  The entire program can be done remotely on your phone or computer. 

     Depending on the group you are randomly assigned to, the program's intensity will vary. The groups are 1. Self-Guided + Digital Tools and 2. Support +Digital Tools. Both groups will be required to complete brief remote assessments at 4, 12, and 24 months. Both groups will be given education on the importance of weight gain prevention. All participants will also be given a digital scale and a Fitbit activity tracker.  

    If you are assigned to the Intervention group (Support +Digital Tools), during the first 12 weeks, we will ask you to engage with the web app regularly. After that, we will guide you to use the digital tools on your own, at your own convenience. We will also offer you periodic refresher programs that give you opportunities to reengage with the web app. 

  • Signing up for a research study is a little different than signing up for a gym membership or community program. When you consent to participate, you agree to be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Being randomized is like flipping a coin, so you can't choose which group you are in. You must be willing to follow the program components that you are assigned. The groups are 1. Self-Guided + Digital and 2. Support + Digital Tools. The study's purpose is to examine the effectiveness of these two different groups. There is no true control in the group. Both groups will be given the skills and tools to make healthy changes. The main difference is the amount of support you have during the program. If you consent to participate, you agree to complete the 2-year study (including all the follow up assessments). We will provide you will evidence-based resources and tools that are proven to help you maintain your healthy weight regardless of your assigned group. 

  • If you are assigned to the Intervention group (Support +Digital Tools), during the first 12 weeks, we will ask you to engage with the web app regularly. This may be 5-15 minutes per day. After that, we will guide you to use the digital tools on your own, at your own convenience. We will also offer you periodic refresher programs that offer opportunities to reengage with the web app. 

Program

  • We understand it is possible that you will be deployed in the next two years. If you get deployed during the study, we will first discuss with you the possibility of completing follow-up assessments. Full participation in the program would depend on the location and details of your deployment. We will encourage you to consider how it may be possible to continue to practice healthy eating and activity behaviors and use the digital tools to help you prevent weight gain. 

  • We understand that it is possible you may become pregnant in the next two years. If you become pregnant, you will not be able to continue to participate in the program because we cannot safely promote weight gain prevention during pregnancy. If you are planning to become pregnant in the next two years, then we ask you not to join the study. 

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