Halting unintentional weight gain after adult lung transplantation (HALT): a pilot study

Research question 1. Can group education sessions and individual phone coaching reduce unintentional gains in weight, fat mass, waist circumference and visceral adipose tissue over 1 year? 2. Can the intervention improve nutrition knowledge, diet quality and physical activity? Background information Weight gain following transplantation is well established, although the mechanisms are unclear. Unintentional weight gain, overweight and obesity following transplant are linked to graft dysfunction, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes. There have been no weight management intervention studies involving lung transplant recipients. Participant characteristics Control =14, Intervention=15 Average age years 59.8, 67.9 Male gender 71.4, 73.3% Caucasian 92.9%, 100% Average height metres 1.69, 1.69 Average weight kilograms 76.3, 73.7 Average Body Mass Index kg/m2 26.6, 25.7 Key Results There were no significant differences between groups at any timepoint for: • Anthropometry measures • Nutrition knowledge • Physical activity There was a significantly higher dairy intake among the intervention group at 12-months, otherwise there were no significant differences in food group intake at any timepoint. Limitations • The pilot study was not able to demonstrate significance • It was not possible to randomise participants or blind investigators • Six intervention participants experienced coronavirus-related periods of lockdown which may have led to greater weight gain • Self-reported measures of diet and physical activity can be imprecise • The intervention group was significantly older and had a higher prevalence of single lung transplants among the intervention group weakened comparison between groups