Can texts and calls help taxi drivers shed pounds?
NCT ID NCT05770570
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Sep 03, 2026 · Updated 5 times
Summary
This study aims to help overweight or obese taxi and ride-share drivers lose weight through a combination of counseling, text messages, phone support, and self-monitoring tools. Researchers will enroll about 1,785 drivers in New York City to find out which parts of the program work best and are most cost-effective. The goal is to create a program that can be widely used to improve health in this hard-to-reach group.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- diet and physical activity counseling, text messages, phone calls, and self-monitoring tools
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a cost-effective, scalable weight-loss program tailored for taxi and ride-share drivers, helping reduce obesity in this hard-to-reach group.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 2 trial testing multiple components, so it is still early. The program may not lead to significant weight loss for all participants, and results may not apply to other populations.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 1,889 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Dec 2022
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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21 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: For COMIDA participants only: * Self-Identifies as Mexican American or Mexican * Seeking services at the VDS of the Mexican Consulate * Prefers to speak in Spanish * All adults at least 18 years of age * Screens as obese (an adult who has a Body Mass Index (BMI) 30 or higher) or overweight (an adult who has a BMI between 25 - 29.9) * Agrees to be audio recorded For SANOS focus group participants only: * Self-identifies as Hispanic/Latino; * Seeking services at VDS or VDS Mobile; * Prefers to speak in Spanish; * At least 18 years of age; * Screens as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m\^2) or overweight (BMI of 25 - 29.9 kg/m\^2); * Agrees to be audio recorded For SANOS RCT participants only: * Self-identifies as Hispanic/Latino; * Seeking services at VDS or VDS Mobile; * Prefers to speak in Spanish; * At least 18 years of age; * Screens as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m\^2) or overweight (BMI of 25 - 29.9 kg/m\^2); * Owns a cell phone capable of receiving text messages; * Agrees to be audio recorded For Family COMIDA participants only: * Self-Identifies as Hispanic/Latino * Seeking services at the VDS (or has used VDS services in the past) of the Mexican - Consulate or VDS Mobile * Prefers to speak in Spanish * At least 18 years of age * Has at least one child under age 18 living in the same household * Owns a cell phone capable of receiving text messages * Willing to receive text messages (3 texts per week for 3 months) * Owns an internet connected device (eg, cell phone, tablet, etc) capable of conducting teleconference calls (eg, Zoom) For ROADmAP RCT participants only: * At least 21 years of age * Full-time (drives at least 35 hours per week) licensed taxi/FHV driver * Driver for at least 6 months * Seeking Health Fairs (or has used Health Fairs services in the past) * Speaks English, French, Bengali, or Spanish * Screens a as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 \[≥25 kg/m2 for South Asians\]) or overweight (BMI of 25 - 29.9 kg/m2 s \[23- 24.9 kg/m2 for South Asians\]) * (BMI cut-offs are lower for South Asians, per WHO and American Diabetes Association recommendations) * Owns a cell phone capable of receiving text messages * Agrees to be audio-recorded For ROADmAP Phase 2 participants only: * At least 21 years of age * Driver who participated in ROADmAP RCT or manager at a taxi garage, Uber, Lyft or driver serving/union/organization * Agrees to be audio-recorded Exclusion Criteria: For COMIDA participants only: * Will not be in the NYC area for the study duration (3-4 months) Is pregnant or might be pregnant * Lactating women * Presence of a chronic disease such as cancer, kidney disease, liver disease, etc. (Individuals with diabetes, lactose intolerance, and high blood pressure MAY still participate in the study) * Has dietary restrictions (i.e. liquid diet) * Does not have a phone that accepts text messages or unwilling to accept text messages * Presence of a serious psychiatric or cognitive impairment likely to preclude meaningful informed consent and adherence to the protocol per the consenting professional"s judgment * Has another family member already enrolled in COMIDA (as determined by patient report) For SANOS focus group participants only: * Is pregnant or might be pregnant; lactating women; * Self-reported presence of a chronic disease such as cancer, kidney disease, liver disease, etc. (individuals with HTN and DM may still participate); * Has dietary restrictions (i.e. liquid diet); * Has a household member who has already participated (or agreed to participate); For SANOS RCT participants only: * Is pregnant or might be pregnant; lactating women; for the study duration (6 months) * Self-reported presence of a chronic disease such as cancer, kidney disease, liver disease, etc. (individuals with HTN and DM may still participate); restricting diet; * Currently has dietary restrictions (i.e. liquid diet); * Has a household member who has already participated (or agreed to participate); * Has already participated in the study * Will not be in the NY Metropolitan area for the study duration (6 months) Works for or with the Mexican consulate (including employment and/or collaborative or volunteer services) For Family COMIDA participants only: * Is pregnant or might be pregnant; lactating women for the study duration (3 months) * Will not be in the NY Metropolitan area for the study duration (3 months) Presence of a chronic disease such as cancer, kidney disease, liver disease, etc. (Individuals with diabetes, lactose intolerance, and high blood pressure MAY still participate in the study) * Has dietary restrictions (i.e. liquid diet) * Has another family member who has already participated in COMIDA or SANOS * Has already participated in the study * Works for or with the Mexican consulate (including employment and/or collaborative or volunteer services) For ROADmAP RCT participants only: * Is pregnant or might be pregnant; lactating women; for the study duration (12 months) * Self-reported presence of a chronic disease such as cancer, kidney disease, liver disease, etc. (individuals with HTN and DM may still participate) that may restrict diet * Currently has dietary restrictions (i.e. liquid diet) * Has a household member who has already participated (or agreed to participate) * Has already participated in the study * Will not be in the NY Metropolitan area for 6 months from study enrollment * Is currently taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Rybelsus, Trulicity Saxenda, Victoza, Phentermine (Adipex, Lomaira), Extended-release Phentermine/Topiramate (Qsymia), Extended-release Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave), Plenity, Orlistat (Xenical) or Other GLP-1 receptor agonist, or any other drug to treat obesity or there is less than 7 weeks since last dosage. * Has undergone weight loss/bariatric surgery or is planning to undergo such surgery in the next 12 months.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Mexican Consulate's Ventanilla de Salud (VDS)
RECRUITINGNew York, New York, 10016, United States
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