Weight gain prevention interventions in the Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention (SNAP) trial promote ideal cardiovascular health in young adults

Abstract

Objective Cardiovascular health (CVH) declines in young adulthood. This study assessed whether weight gain prevention interventions promoted ideal CVH. Methods Young adults (n = 599; age 18–35 years; BMI: 21.0–30.9 kg/m2) from a randomized controlled trial comparing two weight gain prevention interventions (self‐regulation with large or small changes) and a self‐guided control group completed anthropometric and clinical assessments at baseline and 2 years. CVH was quantified via the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7) number of ideal components met. Results Both interventions showed significant improvements in the average number of ideal LS7 components met at 2 years compared with control (pre‐ to post‐treatment means; large change: 0.24, small change: 0.34, control: −0.2, p < 0.05). Moreover, a greater percentage of participants in both interventions improved by ≥1 ideal component (large change: 35%, small change: 37%, control: 29%) and a smaller percentage declined by ≥1 ideal component (large change: 16%, small change: 20%, control: 30%) compared with control. For individual LS7 components, the odds of having an ideal BMI and glucose varied by treatment condition at 2 years. Conclusions Two weight gain prevention interventions led to improvements in ideal CVH at 2 years. Interventions explicitly focused on a broader constellation of LS7 domains might lead to even greater changes in CVH.