Engaging Self-regulation Targets to Improve Mood and Weight and Understand Mechanism in Depressed and Obese Adults

Participants in this study are adult patients with comorbid depression and obesity from outpatient clinics in the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System (UI Health). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive intervention or usual care control. The I-CARE2 intervention synergistically integrates the PEARLS program for depression care the GLB program for weight loss. The PEARLS program provides problem-solving therapy (PST) as first-line for treating depression, with as-needed antidepressant medication intensification. Adapted from the original Diabetes Prevention Program, the GLB program promotes healthy lifestyle change for weight loss and increased physical activity. For combination treatment, the I-CARE2 intervention provides 9 individual counseling sessions (4 weekly, 2 biweekly, and then 3 monthly; 1 hour each) and participant self-study materials (GLB videos, handouts, weight and activity tracking) over 6 months. In response to the funding mechanism for this project, the specific aim of the ENGAGE-2 pilot study is to test the degree to which engaging the validated self-regulation target(s) produces desired behavior change important for weight management and mood.