A brief GP intervention for weight loss: The BWeL-B feasibility trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study testing the acceptance and recruitment methods of weight loss intervention referrals to help inform the development of a larger trial.
IRAS ID
240052
Contact name
Kate Tudor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Clinical Trials Research Governance
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Obesity is an increasing problem in the UK, affecting around 25% of the adult population and the prevalence is projected to double in the next half century.
In a recent randomised trial (‘BWeL’) we showed that GP 30-second opportunistic interventions to motivate action on weight are highly acceptable to patients and can lead to long-term weight loss. Patients who were supported to lose weight (via free referral to weight management programme) lost significantly more weight at 12 month follow up compared to those who were just advised to lose weight.
The support intervention offers the best health gain, however implementation of this in practice would involve NHS and public health costs at the outset, with no savings seen until 2 years’ post-implementation. Furthermore, some local authorities have decommissioned the weight loss referral scheme.
The current study examines the feasibility of modifying the brief intervention slightly. Instead of informing patients that the intervention is the best way to lose weight and is free on the NHS, GPs could instead say that it is the best way but has to be paid for by the patient her- or himself. We will measure whether people will accept a referral that requires their own payment when offered by the GP and whether people will actually attend (at 3-week follow up). Additionally, we will compare two versions of the GP interventions:half of patients will receive a an intervention stating the basic cost of weight management programmes (patient participant group 1), and half will receive an intervention stating the cost compared to an everyday product (patient participant group 2). GPs will also be recruited to provide feedback about the interventions (GP participant group 3).
The primary purpose is to assess the acceptance of the referral and participants' attendance to the weight management programme.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0121
Date of REC Opinion
20 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion