NYU Langone’s MOTIVATE Research Lab developed the Goals for Eating and Moving (GEM) Intervention to promote weight loss, behavior change, and participation in intensive weight management programs within patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs). This intervention is based on the 5As framework (assess, advise, agree, assist, arrange) as recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and reimbursed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The GEM tool is a tablet-delivered online tool used in the primary care setting to facilitate counseling by a health and Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) staff, provide tailored patient education materials, and activate patients to set behavior change goals and discuss weight management treatments with their healthcare teams.

To establish the efficacy of the GEM intervention for weight loss and health outcomes, we are conducting a cluster randomized controlled 12-month intervention at two urban health centers with medical home models of care to compare GEM (intervention) with enhanced usual care (educational materials; control arm).

Specific Aims

• test the impact of the GEM intervention on weight change and clinical and behavioral outcomes
• identify predictors of weight loss in the GEM intervention arm related to goal-setting processes and intervention components
• determine the impact of the GEM intervention on obesity-related counseling practices and attitudes in primary care providers

Contact Information

Location: VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, Manhattan; and Montefiore Medical Group, Bronx, New York
Contact: Sandra Wittleder, postdoctoral fellow and project manager
Email: sandra.wittleder@nyulangone.org
Phone: 212-263-4149
Funding Source: R01, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health
View the GEM study flyer.