The Weight Agnostic Total Cardiometabolic Health (WATCH) Lab
Led by Dr. Jacob Kariuki, the WATCH lab includes a multidisciplinary team of scientists and community-based partners dedicated to promoting optimal cardiometabolic health in high risk and underserved populations using strategies that are not predicated on weight loss. Our primary goal is to enhance the prevention of heart, vascular, and metabolic diseases via programs that are carefully designed to account for individual preferences and socioenvironmental context.
Contact
For potential participants who would like to learn more about current studies, contact us via:
- Email: getfitstudy@emory.edu or activeu@emory.edu
- Phone: 404-544-9238 or 404-544-9159
For researchers and clinicians who would like to discuss potential collaborations, contact us via:
- Email: watch.lab@emory.edu and cc’ watch.lab@emory.edu
- Phone: 404-727-2353
Main areas of focus
- Weight neutral approaches to promote cardiometabolic health among individuals with obesity
- Physical activity programming targeting underserved communities and individuals at high risk of cardiometabolic diseases
- Biobehavioral mechanisms associated with changes in physical activity
- Global health with focus preventive cardiometabolic health
Team
Jacob
Kariuki
PhD, AGNP, FAHA
Principal Investigator
Maheen
Noorullah
MBBS, MPH
Senior Program Coordinator
Heran
Biza
MS
Senior Program Coordinator
Abby
Priel
BS
Senior Program Coordinator
Amjad Mahmoud
Abdirahman
BS
Clinical Research Coordinator
Britney
Beatrice
MSN, RDN, LDN
Co-investigator & Study Dietician
Heather
Milton
MS
Study Head Coach
Cornelius
Brown
BS
Study Coach
Matt
Sells
BS
Study Coach
Ritiko Consulting
Study Engineers
Get Fit Study (ADA)
Get Fit Without Weight Worries
This study is being done test if a video-based exercise program focused on walking, dancing, and abdominal core exercises can be useful in helping people who weigh more (body mass index of at least 30) increase their physical activity. You are being asked to participate in this research study because there is a great need for programs that help people who weigh more increase their physical activity and reduce their risk of diabetes.
Activities
If you qualify and choose to join the study, you will participate for 3 months. All study activities will be done online. The key study measures include:
- Blood pressure
- Weight, body composition, and waist circumference
- Wearing a physical activity tracker throughout the study period
- Finger stick blood test to measure health indicators related to diabetes risk
- Zoom-based meetings with the study team twice a month
Eligibility
You can check whether you are eligible by completing the Get Fit Without Weight Worries or scanning the QR code below:
The Active You Study (R56)
The Active You Study (R56): Get more active using enjoyable workout videos
Individuals with high body mass index (BMI) are at a high risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Increasing physical activity can help reduce the risk of these diseases even when no weight-loss is attained. Our team designed a web-based “Physical Activity for The Heart” (PATH) program to make physical activity enjoyable and convenient for individuals with high BMI. The PATH program utilizes YouTube workout videos that feature diverse individuals with different body sizes and fitness levels engaging in physical activity. The program also includes self-monitoring and personalized remote coaching to help individuals at all levels of fitness increase their activity. This study is being done to examine if the PATH program can be useful in helping people with high BMI increase their physical activity. Recruitment is now closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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