Abstract
SummaryGuidelines 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.
Highlights
Until recently face to face group-based programmes have been the mainstay of weight management services, but there has been a rapid rise in the availability of digital interventions, further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic
This study shows that referral to the tested online weight loss programmes is, at best, only marginally superior to no intervention
The proportion of participants who lost at least 5% of baseline body weight was significantly higher in both the Rosemary Online (RR 3.64 [95% CI 1.63–8.12], p 0.002) and Slimming World (RR 2.70 [95% CI: 1.17– 6.23], p 0.020) groups compared with the control group
Summary
The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of largely unsupported digital interventions for weight loss in a primary care setting. The aim of the study was to compare each of the active interventions with the control. We aimed to examine the extent of engagement with programmes using data collected by the provider
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