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 in IG patients and +0.14 kg/m in the control group ( = 0.590), and respectively, +0.03 kg/m and +0.19 kg/m at month 12 ( = 0.454). Both groups were physically active, walking averages of 10 807 (IG) and 11 093 (control group) steps per day at month 8 ( = 0.823), and respectively 9773 and 11 217 at month 12 ( = 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.