Skills for weight loss Maintenance (SkiM)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Skills for weight loss Maintenance (SkiM): The feasibility of an intervention to support weight loss maintenance, and of a trial to evaluate it
IRAS ID
171313
Contact name
Colin Greaves
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 1 months, 17 days
Research summary
Obesity presents a growing burden to society and healthcare providers because it increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. Interventions are available to promote weight-loss and so reduce the risks for these diseases. However, people often regain the lost weight, and there is uncertainty about how best to support long-term weight-loss maintenance.
Based on the views of people maintaining weight-loss, and of providers and commissioners of weight management services, as well as published research, we have developed an intervention to help individuals develop skills for weight-loss maintenance (SkiM). It focuses on self-managing thoughts, feelings and other influences on behaviour; and changing habits. In this study with 90 participants, we will evaluate the feasibility of integrating this intervention with several existing weight loss programmes, provided by organisations commissioned to deliver community-based weight management services. The purposes of the study are to develop a feasible weight management programme that specifically addresses weight loss maintenance, and to evaluate recruitment, retention, and other methodological strategies that will be used in a randomised control trial of the intervention.
The intervention will be provided to adults with a body mass index over 30kg/m2 and involve either group-based or one-to-one support, alongside a self-help manual. Three existing programmes, delivered by trained and experienced health practitioners, will be augmented and extended to 6 months from their existing 3-month duration, with outcomes measured up to 18 months from baseline. We will measure changes in body weight and other outcomes of interest 6 months and 12 months after the end of the programme. Participants and the programme providers will be interviewed about their experiences of the programme in order to help us make it more acceptable or more effective.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0126
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion