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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Dec;11(6):e12482.
doi: 10.1111/cob.12482. Epub 2021 Oct 6.

Testing the short-term effectiveness of primary care referral to online weight loss programmes: A randomised controlled trial

Michaela Noreik  1   2 , Claire D Madigan  1   2   3 , Nerys M Astbury  1   2 , Rhiannon M Edwards  1 , Ushma Galal  1 , Jill Mollison  1 , Fitsum Ghebretinsea  1 , Susan A Jebb  1   2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Testing the short-term effectiveness of primary care referral to online weight loss programmes: A randomised controlled trial

Michaela Noreik et al. Clin Obes. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Guidelines ask health professionals to offer brief advice to encourage weight loss for people living with obesity. We tested whether referral to one of three online programmes could lead to successful weight loss. A total of 528 participants aged ≥18 years with a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2 were invited via a letter from their GP. Participants were randomised to one of three online weight loss programmes (NHS Weight Loss Plan, Rosemary Online or Slimming World Online) or to a control group receiving no intervention. Participants self-reported weight at baseline and 8 weeks. The primary outcome was weight change in each of the active intervention groups compared with control. We also compared the proportion of participants losing ≥5% or ≥10% of body weight. For Rosemary, Online mean weight loss was modestly greater than control (-1.5 kg [95% confidence interval (CI) -2.3 to -0.6]) and more than three times as many participants in this group lost ≥5% (relative risk [RR] = 3.64, 95% CI: 1.63-8.1). For Slimming World, mean weight loss was not significantly different from control (-0.8 kg [95%CI -1.7 to 0.1]), twice as many participants lost ≥5% (RR = 2.70, 1.17-6.23). There was no significant difference in weight loss for participants using the NHS Weight Loss Plan (-0.4 kg, [95% CI -1.3 to 0.5]), or the proportion losing ≥5% (RR = 2.09, 0.87-5.01). Only one of three online weight loss programmes was superior to no intervention and the effect size modest among participants living with obesity.

Keywords: digital intervention; digital weight loss programmes; obesity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Rosemary Online and Slimming World granted free access to their programmes for participants randomised to the respective study arm. Michaela Noreik, Claire D. Madigan, Nerys M. Astbury, Rhiannon M. Edwards, Ushma Galal, Jill Mollison, Fitsum Ghebretinsea declare no other conflict of interest. Susan A Jebb received payment to the institution from Oviva Ltd. for a presentation unrelated to this project.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
CONSORT 2010 flow diagram
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Proportion of participants reporting >5 and > 10% weight loss. Values represent risk ratio (95% confidence intervals) and two sided p‐value compared with the control group estimated using a log‐binomial regression model adjusted for baseline weight
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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