The counselor‐initiated (CI) behavioral weight loss intervention translated from Look AHEAD (Action for Heath in Diabetes) was well received and is a promising approach for managing weight in an active duty military population. This according to a recent study, Fit Blue, which compared a translation of the Look AHEAD intensive lifestyle intervention with a self‐paced version of the same intervention among active duty military personnel. Active duty military personnel (n=248; 49% male, 34% racial minority) with overweight or obesity were randomized to 12‐month distance‐based (ie, phone and email) parallel programs, CI condition or self‐paced (SP) condition, from 2014 to 2016. Researchers found:

• The CI condition had greater weight loss at 4 months (CI: mean ± SD = −3.2 ± 3.4 kg; SP: −0.6 ± 2.9 kg) and at 12 months (CI: mean ± SD = −1.9 ± 4.1 kg; SP: −0.1 ± 3.8 kg).
• Participants in the CI condition also had a greater percent weight loss at both 4 months (CI: 3.5% ± 3.8, SP: 0.6% ± 3.1) and 12 months (CI: 2.1% ± 4.7, SP: 0.0% ± 4.0).
• In addition, a greater proportion of CI participants lost ≥5% at 4 months (CI: 29.8%, SP: 10.5%) and at 12 months (CI: 29.5%, SP: 15.6%).