Comparison of a Behavioral Versus an Educational Weight Management Intervention After Renal Transplantation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND. In the first year following renal transplantation, preventing weight gain to minimize overweight or obesity is particularly important. The aim of this study is to test the effect of an 8-month behavioral intervention BMI and physical activity. METHODS. This randomized controlled study included 123 adult kidney or kidney-pancreas recipients. Patients were randomized to usual (1 educational session, then weight self-monitoring) and intervention care (usual care plus 7–8 counseling sessions). Alongside weight, body composition, and physical activity, satisfaction and perceptions regarding care were measured at weeks 2–6 (baseline), then at months 8 and 12. RESULTS. Both groups reported comparably high satisfaction. The intervention group (IG) reported more chronic care-related activities. In patients with BMIs ≥ 18.5, mean weight gain (from baseline) was unexpectedly low in both groups: at month 8, +0.04 kg/m(2) in IG patients and +0.14 kg/m(2) in the control group (P = 0.590), and respectively, +0.03 kg/m(2) and +0.19 kg/m(2) at month 12 (P = 0.454). Both groups were physically active, walking averages of 10 807 (IG) and 11 093 (control group) steps per day at month 8 (P = 0.823), and respectively 9773 and 11 217 at month 12 (P = 0.195). CONCLUSIONS. The behavioral intervention had high patient acceptance and supported patients in maintaining their weight, but had no superior effect on a single educational session. Further research is needed to assess patient weight gain risk profiles to stratify the intervention.