FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Preventive Medicine

Beverly Goodwin Sousoulas

901-448-4280

bsousoulas @ utmem.edu, or

 

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 Sheila Champlin

(901) 448-4957

 

 

Weight Gain Prevention and Blood Pressure Control

in Hypertensive Smokers Is Goal of New Research Study

at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center

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Memphis, Tenn. (August 29, 2006) -- Researchers at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) Department of Preventive Medicine want to enroll 600 participants, male and female, between the ages 18 to 75, in a research study to help prevent weight gain and control blood pressure in hypertensive smokers or in  smokers who recently quit and have elevated blood pressure.  The research study is called CHANGE.

The study will investigate the effectiveness of three interventions following smoking cessation: (a) a behavioral weight-control program (to prevent post-cessation weight gain, with the emphasis on preventing the weight gain that accompanies quitting smoking rather than weight loss per se) plus lifestyle modification (exercise); (b) lifestyle modification to improve blood pressure control (which may result in some weight loss but focuses more on sodium restriction in order to improve blood pressure control) plus exercise; and (c) self-help materials targeting weight management and blood pressure control (minimal treatment control).

Approximate length of time for subjects to participate in the study is 30 hours over 14 months.  Participants who finish the study will receive $100 ($25 for each completed clinic study visit).  The payment is compensation for time and travel spent to participate in this study, which is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Principal investigators for the multi-center study are Mark VanderWeg, PhD, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and, at UTHSC, Robert C. Klesges, PhD.  Dr. Klesges has a 20-year history of conducting important clinical trials in cancer prevention, smoking cessation and obesity in Memphis.  He also serves as the principal investigator for a large National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded study being conducted at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  UTHSC co-principal investigator is Margaret W. DeBon, PhD.  Co-investigators are Grant Somes, PhD, and Kathy Ryder, MD.  DarrelI Jackson, RN, is the study coordinator. 

Anyone interested in participating in the CHANGE research study should call the UTHSC Preventive Medicine recruitment department at (901) 448-8400 or 1-800-916-2606 to determine eligibility.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is focused on a four-tier mission of education, research, patient care and community service, all in support of a single goal: to improve the health of Tennesseans.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main campus, which includes six colleges, is located in Memphis.  UTHSC has additional College of Medicine campus locations in Knoxville and Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.utmem.edu.

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