Introduction Clinically significant weight loss is defined as a ≥5% of initial body weight loss within a 6-month period. The purpose of this study was to assess body weight change from a 12-week telehealth-based weight loss program that integrated health coaching via video conferencing. Methods A total of 25 obese participants (12 males, 13 females) were recruited for this fully online 12-week weight loss program. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or control group ( n = 13 intervention, body mass index (BMI) = 34.7 ± 4.5 kg/m; n = 12 control, BMI = 34.4 ± 4.43 kg/m). All participants were given access to a secure platform for data tracking and video conferencing with the research team. The intervention group met with the medical doctor once per month and with a registered dietitian, weekly. Control participants met with the research team at baseline and at 12 weeks. Independent samples t-tests and Chi-square tests were used via SPSS version 24 with significance set to p < 0.05. Results There was a significant difference between the intervention and control groups for body weight loss (7.3 ± 5.2 versus 1.2 ± 3.9 kg, respectively, p < 0.05) as well as for percent body weight loss (7.16 ± 4.4 versus 1.5 ± 4.1%, respectively, p < 0.05). Clinically significant weight loss was achieved in 9 out of 13 (69.2%) in the intervention group versus 1 out of 12 (8%) in the control group. Discussion Mobile phone-based health coaching may promote weight loss. Weekly video conferencing with education may be an applicable tool for inducing significant body weight loss in obese individuals.

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Our research aims were to: 1) assess the prevalence of two condom use problems: breakage or slippage and partial use (delayed application or early removal) among men who have sex with men (MSM) seeking services in urban U.S. STD clinics; and 2) examine the association between these condom use problems and participant, partner and partnership characteristics. Analysis is restricted to HIV-negative MSM who reported having anal sex at least once in the preceding 3 months and who completed both the baseline and 3-month follow-up assessments. Two models were fitted using the GEE approach. A total of 263 MSM (median age=32 years) reported 990 partnerships. Partnerships with no condom use 422 (42.6%) were excluded. Thus, 207 MSM and 568 partnerships were included. Among condom users, 100% use was reported within 454 partnerships (79.9%) and <100% within 114 (20.1%), and 21(3.7%) reported both condom use problems, 25 (4.4%) reported only breakage, 67 (11.8%) reported only partial use, and 455 (80.1%) reported no errors. The breakage or slippage and partial use rates per condom used were 3.4% and 11.2%, respectively. A significantly higher rate of breakage or slippage occurred among non-main partnerships. Characteristics associated with increased odds for condom breakage or slippage were: lower education level (OR=2.78; CI: 1.1-7.5), non-main partner status (OR=4.1; CI: 1.5-11.7), and drunk or high during sex (OR=2.0; CI: 1.1-3.8), and for partial use: lower education level (OR=2.6; CI: 1.0-6.6), perceived partner STI risk (OR=2.4; CI:1.3-4.2), and inconsistent condom use (OR=3.7; CI:2.0-6.6). A high percentage of MSM partnerships reported no condom use and among condom users, a sizable proportion did not use them consistently or correctly. MSM may benefit from interventions designed to increase proficiency for condom use with a particular focus on the behaviors of inconsistent and partial condom use.

Background Incorrect condom use is a common problem that can undermine their prevention impact. We assessed the prevalence of two condom use problems, breakage/slippage and partial use, compared problems by partnership type, and examined associations with respondent, partner, and partnership characteristics. Methods Data were collected at 3-month intervals over a 12-month period (1999–2000) among urban STD clinic users. Condom use problems were compared between partnership types using z-tests for equality of proportions. Logistic generalized estimating equations modeling accounted for within-participant correlation of repeated measures. Results Overall, 3,297 respondents reported 9,304 main and 6,793 non-main partnerships; condoms were used at least once in 4,942 (53.0%) and 4,523 (66.6%) of these partnerships respectively. Condom breakage/slippage was reported during 6.0% of uses (5.1% main, 9.4% non-main) and partial use during 12.5% of uses (12.8% main, 11.5% non-main). The proportion of respondents experiencing any condom use problem in the prior 3 months was higher among main compared to non-main partnerships: 39.1% v. 29.9% had either problem; 22.5% v. 19.0% had breakage/slippage only; 21.8% v. 18.7%, partial use; and 8.7% v. 7.1% had both use problems. In multivariable analysis, factors associated with condom use problems varied by partnership type and respondent sex. The most common predictors of problems across models were sex while high and inconsistent condom use. Conclusions This study highlights the diverse set of risk factors for condom use problems at the individual, partner and partnerships levels.

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