The Goals for Eating and Moving (GEM) Intervention delivers 5As (assess, advise, agree, assist, arrange) weight management counseling within the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System’s patient-centered medical home, called Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT). Veterans use an online goal-setting tool that generates tailored materials and facilitates in-person and telephone counseling with health coaches who support PACT team counseling and referral to VA weight management services.

In the MOTIVATE Research Lab, we conducted a non-randomized feasibility study of this intervention with 10 veteran patients and a randomized pilot study with 45 Veterans. At 1 year, we expect that 27 percent of patients will have 5 percent weight loss.

Specific Aims

• test the impact of the GEM Intervention on weight change, clinical, and behavioral outcomes
• identify predictors of weight loss in veterans participating in the intervention arm related to intervention components and goal setting
• determine the impact of the intervention on provider and PACT obesity-related counseling attitudes and practices

Contact Information

Location: VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, Manhattan
Contact: Clare Viglione
Email: clare.viglione@nyulangone.org
Phone: 212-686-7500 x5092
Funding Source: Career Development Award, Health Services Research and Development, Veterans Affairs

The pilot randomized controlled trial of the Goals for Eating and Moving (GEM) Intervention concluded in 2017.