AMPLIFY: a new online weight loss study specifically for cancer survivors!

About the Study

AMPLIFY is a nation-wide, web-based diet and exercise study recruiting overweight survivors of early stage breast, prostate, ovarian, renal, colorectal and endometrial cancer and multiple myeloma. This study is enrolling qualified cancer survivors age 50 and older who are interested in becoming more active, eating better and losing weight.

What the Study Entails

Qualified participants in this randomized controlled trial will be assigned to one of three study arms:

• the Diet intervention for the first 6 months and then Exercise for the next 6 months
• Exercise intervention for first 6 months and then Diet for the next 6 months; or
• Cancer survivorship topics for the first 6 months followed by a combined diet and exercise intervention for 12 months.

Participants assigned to all interventions will receive regular sessions and website support resources consistent with the American Institute for Cancer Research Guidelines. Participants also will receive a scale, portion control tableware, exercise bands and a pedometer.

The following health measures will be assessed remotely at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months including:

• body weight
• waist circumference
• physical performance testing (such as the 2-minute step test)
• physical activity (measured with an activity monitor)
• blood (collected by a finger prick) and urine samples (collected by a test strip).

In addition, surveys will be used to collect data on diet, physical activity, quality of life, and health conditions and care through online surveys at baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months.

Study Site

ALL ASSESSMENTS ARE DONE REMOTELY (FROM PARTICIPANTS’ HOMES), THUS, THERE IS NO NEED TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE.  However, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is the enrolling site. 

Those interested are encouraged to call the toll-free number (833-535-7934); visit our website or Facebook page

Lead Researcher

Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhD, RD
Study Principal Investigator
University of Alabama at Birmingham  

People can participate if they:

• are age 50 years or older
• have been diagnosed with one of the following cancers:
  • localized ovarian cancer
  • localized, regional or in situ breast cancer 
  • localized, regional or in situ colorectal cancer
  • localized, regional or in situ endometrium cancer
  • localized, regional or in situ prostate cancer
  • localized kidney cancer
  • multiple myeloma
• have completed primary treatment. (Active surveillance among men with prostate cancer or women with ductal carcinoma in situ is acceptable.)
• reside in an area that receives wireless coverage and have an active email address or be willing to have one created for the study.
• have a current body mass index of greater than or equal to 25 kg/m2, but less than 50 kg/m2.
• are physically active with less than 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week.

People cannot participate if they:

• are already participating in another diet and exercise program.
• have a progressive or recurrent cancer of the eligible cancer types or secondary cancer.
• have been instructed by a doctor to limit current physical activity.
• have a pre-existing medical conditions that preclude adherence to an unsupervised weight loss intervention (e.g., pregnancy, severe orthopedic conditions, impending hip or knee replacement (within 6 months), end-stage renal disease, paralysis, dementia, blindness, unstable angina, untreated stage 3 hypertension, or recent history of heart attack, congestive heart failure or pulmonary conditions that required oxygen or hospitalization within 6 months).