Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A: Healthy Living BEYOND Weight looks at how different ways to manage weight affect health over time. The objective is to establish a long-term participant registry to study weight and weight management treatments. The purpose is to better understand factors contributing to excess weight and long-term health outcomes in people living with overweight or obesity or those on treatment for weight management, including weight-loss drugs.

A: The American Heart Association is responsible for conducting the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study.

A: The American Heart Association funds more cardiovascular and stroke research than any nonprofit U.S. organization except the federal government. The American Heart Association is consistently ranked as a Top Trusted Nonprofit Brand and is a trusted leader in health science.

A: Ideally, you will participate over the next five to 10 years. Long-term participation is important to the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study. It allows data to be collected over time and for researchers to understand long-term health outcomes. However, taking part in the study is completely voluntary. You can drop out of the study at any time.

A: You will be asked to provide your name, email address, mailing address, gender, race and ethnicity. You also will be asked to provide your date of birth, confirming that you are at least 18 years old. Additionally, if you have an electronic health record (EHR) and wish to provide the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study with access to it, we will ask for your consent to do so.

A: Yes. You need an email address to participate, including setting up your profile and receiving updates about the study.

A: If you voluntarily choose to join the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study, you will be asked to:

• Complete online
• Share information about your health and lifestyle within the study’s mobile app or website
• Connect your Electronic Health Record (optional)

You choose:

• What information to share
• Which surveys to take and questions to answer

When you give consent, that means you agree to let the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study researchers use the information you have provided for research.

A: An electronic health record (EHR) is a platform where your health care team digitally stores your health information. Think of it as an electronic version of your medical chart. Your EHR contains information about your health and the care you have received including diagnoses, medications, tests and treatment plans.

A: By participating in the study, you will be asked to complete an initial questionnaire. We also will send you surveys on a regular basis as well as email reminders to complete the surveys. We may also invite you to participate in other related studies through email or in-app notifications.

A: No. This study will not change your health care. The Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study is not intended to provide medical care or interfere with your relationship with your own health care professionals. The information you provide to the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study will not be shared with your health care team.

A: The Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study is NOT a weight-loss treatment program. The study is not intended to provide medical care. We are unable to provide specific treatments or medications for weight loss or maintenance.

A: No. Participation in the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study will not impact your insurance. You do not have to have health insurance to participate in the study. Your information will not be shared with any insurance providers. The Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study is a research study. It is not medical care or a treatment program.

A: No. You will not be contacted by doctors, other health care professionals or researchers as part of this study. Authorized study team members may contact you about specific study opportunities.

A: You will not receive direct medical care or benefits from participating in the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study. However, you will be part of a community focused on improving health. We will provide articles and resources to help you with your health journey. You also will have access to your shared information and insights about the study community. The study will analyze participants’ data to find patterns and share discoveries with you.

A: Health research allows researchers and scientists to discover new findings to not only help improve people’s health but also enhance their quality of life.

A: Contact the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight study team at [email protected] or call us toll-free at (888) 242-2222.

A: Participants must meet the following criteria:

• Adults who are at least 18 years old.
• Reside in the United States.
• Have a BMI of 25 or higher.
• If your BMI used to be 25 or higher but is now below 25 because of weight management treatment (such as medications that support weight and health (for example, GLP-1s), weight-loss surgery, or lifestyle changes, you can still participate.
• Have a valid email address.

A: You are not eligible to participate if you:

• Are currently incarcerated
• Have been diagnosed with a terminal condition and have a life expectancy of less than six months
• Are currently pregnant
• Work for the American Heart Association or are a member of the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study Team

A: You cannot join the study while you are pregnant. However, if you become pregnant once you’re enrolled in the study, you may stay enrolled in the study. Your ongoing participation will not be affected.

A: As part of your participation in the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study, you will be asked to complete four key surveys a year. Completing these surveys is the most important way you can make a difference. Here’s what you can expect:

• Annual health surveys — Once a year, you will be invited to take an important health and habits survey. Your answers will help us understand your overall well-being. This survey may take about 20 minutes to complete. This annual health survey is one of the most important surveys of the entire study.
• Quarterly surveys — Every few months, shorter surveys focused on health and nutrition topics will be added to your dashboard. These surveys may take about 10 minutes to complete.

You’ll also see a few quick question cards along the way. Each one takes less than 2 minutes to answer. These questions help us personalize your experience and guide what you and your fellow participants see throughout the study.

A: You will receive notifications when there are new surveys as well as reminder notifications. However, missed surveys will not disqualify you from continued participation in the study.

A: Yes, you may still participate. Participation in another study does not disqualify you from participating in the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study.

A: No. You will not need to visit a clinic or hospital to initiate or continue participation in the study. This is a direct-to-patient study. The information you share with us will be collected electronically through the study’s mobile app or website.

However, you may have the option of participating in additional studies that are a part of the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study. Some parts of these additional studies may have in-person testing, which may include lab work, scans, and the ability to connect wearable devices or sensors. You can choose or decline participation in these optional studies. Neither will affect your participation in the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study.

A: The risks are minimal. The main risk is the potential for data breaches. The Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study will make every effort to protect your confidentiality. We have robust security measures in place to protect your information.

A: There is no cost to participate in the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study.

A: There will be compensation provided for the completion of certain activities within the study. The Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study will have a point system. You can earn points by completing activities in the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study mobile application (app) or website. You will earn varying amounts of points for different study activities (taking surveys, reading articles, and more). These points can be converted into any of the following options:

• Gift cards to Amazon, Walmart, Apple, CVS Pharmacy, Kroger, Publix, Target or Walgreens.
• Prepaid virtual visa
• Charitable donation to the American Heart Association

If you withdraw from the study, the points you have not redeemed will no longer be available to you.

To learn more about redeeming points, please refer to How Do Points Work and How Do I Redeem Them?

A: You can earn points by completing activities in the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study mobile app or website. You will earn varying amounts of points by completing cards, such as taking surveys, reading articles and more. These points can be converted into gift cards or other reward prizes.

Once you reach 10,000 points, you can claim your first $10 reward. Every 10,000 points after that also can be redeemed for $10. For example, if you earn 20,000 points, you can redeem 10,000 points for your first $10 reward, then redeem your remaining 10,000 points for another $10 reward.

To redeem your reward you will need to follow the steps below:

1. Click the “Redeem” prompt next to the point total. Please note, the “redeem” button will not show up until you have reached at least 10,000 points.
   
2. Click “Redeem your Points”.
3. Scroll down and click “Get your Reward”.
4. Go to your email to claim your reward. (The reward email will be sent to the email address associated with your Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study account.)
5. Open the link in the email. This will take you to the Tremendous reward portal.
6. Select your reward.

Points will not expire and there is no cap on how many points you can earn or redeem for a reward.

A: Points will not expire, and there is no cap on how many points you can earn or redeem for a reward.

A: Yes. Participation is voluntary. You can withdraw from the study at any time without any penalty.

A: Yes. You may withdraw and rejoin at any time. If you do withdraw and wish to rejoin, you will not be able to update your previous consent record. You will need to go through the sign-up and consent process again. To restart the consent process, you will need to use a different email address than the one used for your previous account. Any activities performed during your previous enrollment will not be linked or carried over into your new account.

A: You can choose to stop participating in the study at any time. If you no longer wish to participate, you will need to change your consent choices. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Go to “Account”.
2. On the “Profile” tab, look for “My Consents”.
3. Click “View your consents here”.
4. In the “Account” section, click “Informed Consent”
5. Click “Withdraw consent”.

By completing step 5, you will have successfully withdrawn from the study. You should receive an email confirming this. Once you have withdrawn, you will no longer have access to the study’s mobile app and website and will no longer receive email communications.

A: Only people who currently live in the United States can join and participate in the study. If you are not planning to move out of the U.S. within the next 12 months, then you can sign up.

A: No. Your doctor or any health care professionals will not be informed of your participation in the study. You can choose to inform your doctor or others in your health care team about your participation if you wish.

A: The Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study provides a way to report information about your health for research purposes. Please note that the study will NOT provide health care or prescribe participants any medication. If you experience any medication side effects, you should immediately contact your doctor or health care professional who has prescribed the medication. If your side effects are life threatening, call 911 immediately.

The Healthy Living BEYOND Weight study may ask survey questions that relate to side effects. However, this is purely for data collection purposes and researchers will not be able to address your side effect concerns.

A: You will receive reminders through email or mobile app notifications to complete any surveys.

A: If you miss a survey, you will receive a follow-up reminder. Consistent participation is highly encouraged to collect the best information for the study. However, missed surveys will not disqualify you from continued participation in the study.

A: If you cannot finish a survey in a single sitting, your progress will be saved for each completed page. Responses on incomplete pages of the survey will not be saved.

If a survey reaches its expiration date before you complete it, you will not be able to complete the survey.

A: De-identified survey responses — those that cannot personally identify you — will be used to study the conditions of overweight and obesity, as well as weight management drugs and treatments. This information can lead to improved treatment of health conditions. It also can help to inform future changes to care.

A: Information that can personally identify you, such as your name, date of birth, address and email, will not be shared. Only data with personally identifiable information removed will be used for research purposes. If you join the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study, we will only give out identifiable information if needed to meet U.S. research laws and regulations.

A: Your data will be encrypted, or converted into a code, and stored on a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. (HIPAA is a federal law that restricts release of medical information.) No personal information that can identify you will be shared. Only authorized personnel will have access to your data.

A: Your privacy matters to the American Heart Association. The Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study is dedicated to keeping participant data private and safe. Here is how the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study protects your data:

• Compliance with laws: The American Heart Association follows all federal, state and local laws to ensure your data is secure.
• Strict policies: The American Heart Association has strong rules and procedures to prevent any misuse of your information.
• Regular security checks: The American Heart Association frequently test our systems to make sure your data stays safe.
• Transparency: If there is ever a risk to your privacy due to a data breach, The American Heart Association will inform you immediately.
• Protected storage: Your data is stored on secure computers. The American Heart Association controls who can access it.
• Anonymize data: The American Heart Association removes any personal details that could identify you from the data.
• Researcher agreements: All researchers must agree to follow our data use rules, including not trying to identify you.

A: No. You will not be asked to provide your Social Security number.

A: Your individually identifiable information will NOT be accessed. All the information you provide will be de-identified when studied. This means that the data used in the study will not include your name, address or other personal information that can directly identify you. Only researchers approved by the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study will be allowed to see the study data. These researchers may be from anywhere in the world. They may work for commercial companies, such as drug companies, nonprofits, public agencies or academic institutions.

A: The results will be used to improve understanding of health risk factors, weight management and treatment, and new therapies. Findings may be published in scientific journals and presented at conferences. No individually identifiable results will be used or shared.

A: No. Your address, email address and phone number will not be sold or shared with unauthorized personnel. Authorized study team members may use this information to contact you about specific study opportunities.

A: Some participants may find answering personal questions about sensitive topics, such as lifestyle, weight, behaviors and medical conditions to be uncomfortable. As with any type of electronic study participation, there is a small risk of loss of privacy. The study team is dedicated to keeping participant data private and safe. We will do everything we can to protect your data.

A: An electronic health record (EHR) is a platform where your health care team digitally stores your health information. Think of it as an electronic version of your medical chart. Your EHR contains information about your health and the care you have received including diagnoses, medications, tests and treatment plans.

A: Yes. When connecting your EHR, you will need to provide certain information. Before you begin, have the following information:

• The name of the health system or hospital where you get your care
• Your login details (username and password) for MyChart (for Epic), CernerHealth or any other online medical portal

A: You will be able to connect your EHR directly through the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study mobile app or website. Below is the step-by-step process to do so:

1. Complete the Electronic Health Records consent card available to you in the app.
2. Connect your EHR from the new card that pops up.
3. Search for your health system/health organization by name and select it.
4. Type in your credentials.
5. Authorize the type of information you want to share. (We recommend you allow authorization for all options available. However, you have the choice to unselect any options that you wish not to share. Please note that all options are checked by default.)
6. Select a time period for which this authorization is valid if asked. (We recommend choosing one year.)
7. Agree to share your data.
8. Return to the app experience once the data transfer process is complete.

A: You can select which medical records or portions of your medical records you would like to share with the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study.

A: You will have the ability to connect EHR data from multiple health systems. If you receive care from more than one health system, you will need to go through the process twice to connect each system separately.

A: 1up Health, through their 1up Patient Connect system, provides a trusted and secure way for you to connect your EHR data. When connecting your EHR data through the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study mobile app or website, you will be redirected to the 1up Patient Connect system.

A: Every Health System has different requirements for how long your EHR data authorization lasts. It is important for the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study team to have access to new information over the course of the study. If your authorization expires with the Health System while you are still enrolled in the study, we may ask you to reconnect. To do so, go to the “Discover” tab for EHR connection and follow the reconnection instructions.

A: Your privacy matters to us. The Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study is dedicated to keeping participant data private and safe. Here is how the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study protects your data:

• Compliance with laws: The American Heart Association follows all federal, state and local laws to ensure your data is secure.
• Strict policies: The American Heart Association has strong rules and procedures to prevent any misuse of your information.
• Regular security checks: The American Heart Association frequently test our systems to make sure your data stays safe.
• Transparency: If there is ever a risk to your privacy due to a data breach, The American Heart Association will inform you immediately.
• Protected storage: Your data is stored on secure computers. The American Heart Association controls who can access it.
• Anonymize data: The American Heart Association removes any personal details that could identify you from the data.
• Researcher agreements: All researchers must agree to follow our data use rules, including not trying to identify you.

A: You can disconnect an EHR by going to the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight Study’s mobile app or website. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Click “Connections”.
2. From "Active Connections", go to the "Electronic Health Record (EHR)".
3. Click “1up Health”.
4. Select the health system from which you want to disconnect.
5. Click “Disconnect”.
6. Confirm your decision to disconnect.

A: Yes. You can withdraw consent at any time. When you withdraw your Health Records Consent, the study team will disconnect any health systems you had previously authorized and will not pull any data from those systems going forward.

To withdraw a Health Records Consent, follow these steps:

1. Click “Account”.
2. Go to “My Consents”.
3. Click “View your consents here”.
4. Go to the Protected Health Information section.
5. Click “Personal Health Authorization”.
6. Click “Withdraw”.
7. Confirm your decision to withdraw.

By completing step 7, you will have successfully withdrawn your consent to share your health records. You should receive an email confirming this. Since connecting your health records is not required for participation, you will still have access to all other study platform activities.

A: You can access the study platform using your phone, tablet, or desktop. It’s designed to make participation easy and convenient from any device. You’re not required to use the same device you signed up with, feel free to log in from whichever device is most convenient for you.

A: The study platform works with most modern internet browsers, including Edge, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari. If you’re having trouble using the study site on any of these, please reach out to the study team for help. When you contact us, be sure to include the email you used to sign up for Healthy Living BEYOND Weight and a brief description of the issue you’re experiencing.

A: The mobile app is available for download on both the App Store and Google Play.

Apple(link opens in new window)
Google Play(link opens in new window)

A: No, you do not need to download the app to participate. You can continue using the web version or switch seamlessly between web and mobile anytime.

A: If you are unable to log in, first try closing your browser, then reopen your browser and logging back in.

If that does not work, try clearing your browser history and logging back in. To clear your browser's cache and history:

1. Open your browser's Settings or Preferences menu.
2. Look for a section called Privacy, History, or Browsing Data.
3. Choose the option to Clear Browsing Data, Clear History, or Clear Cache.
4. Select Cached images and files and, if needed, Browsing history.
5. Confirm by clicking Clear Data or OK.
6. Close and reopen your browser before trying again.

If you’re unsure how to do this, try searching online for “how to clear cache in [insert your browser name]” (like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge).

If this does not work, please contact the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight™ help desk at [email protected].

A: Please contact the study team at AHA.HLBW@heart .org and let the study team know your current email address as well as the new email address you would like to use. A team member will reach out to you once your request has been completed.

A: For a survey: Your progress will be saved for each complete page. Responses on incomplete pages of the survey will not be saved. If a survey reaches its expiration date before you complete it, you will not be able to complete the survey.

For an article or recipe: If you no longer see the article or recipe on your Action Dashboard, don’t worry, you can still find it under the Discover tab. Articles and recipes will remain on the Discover tab for at least 90 days.

A: After you complete an action from your Action Dashboard, you’ll be brought back to the main dashboard screen. You should also see your points total update at the top. This allows you to keep track of your progress as you go!

A: If you cannot finish a survey in a single sitting, your progress will be saved for each completed page. Responses on incomplete pages of the survey will not be saved. If a survey reaches its expiration date before you complete it, you will not be able to complete the survey.

A: You will not have the option to bookmark or share an article within the mobile app. However, the “Discover” tab will store expired/previously completed articles for an additional 90 days following the expiration of the card on the homepage.

A: Contact the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight study team at [email protected] or call us toll-free at (888) 242-2222.

A: Contact the Healthy Living BEYOND Weight study team at [email protected] or call us toll-free at (888) 242-2222. When emailing the study team, please include as many details as you can. If you're reporting a problem with the platform, screenshots are helpful and appreciated.