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Study protocol
A randomised controlled trial to compare a range of commercial or primary care led weight reduction programmes with a minimal intervention control for weight loss in obesity: the Lighten Up trial
Kate Jolly*, Amanda Daley, Peymane Adab, Amanda Lewis, John Denley, Jane Beach and Paul Aveyard
Corresponding author:
School of Health & Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
NHS South Birmingham, 6th Floor, Triplex House, Eckersall Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 5SR, UK
For all author emails, please .
BMC Public Health 2010, 10:439&
doi:10.58-10-439
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at:
Received:30 June 2010
Accepted:27 July 2010
Published:27 July 2010
& 2010 J licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Background
Developed countries are facing a huge rise in the prevalence of obesity and its associated
chronic medical problems. In the UK Primary Care Trusts are charged with addressing
this in the populations they serve, but evidence about the most effective ways of
delivering services is not available. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness
of a range of weight loss programmes for obese patients in primary care and to determine
the characteristics of patients who respond to an invitation to a free weight management
programme.
Methods/Design
Lighten Up is a randomised controlled trial comparing a range of 12-week commercial
and NHS weight reduction programmes with a comparator group who are provided with
12 vouchers enabling free entrance to a local leisure centre. The weight reduction
programmes are: (i) Weight Watchers, (ii) Slimming World, (iii) Rosemary Conley, (iv)
a group-based dietetics-led programme (Size Down), (v) general practice one-to-one
counselling, (vi) pharmacy-led one-to-one counselling, (vii) choice of any of the
6 programmes. People with obesity or overweight with a co-morbid disorder are invited
to take part by a letter from their general practitioner. The sample size is 740 participants.
The primary outcome is weight loss at programme-end (3 months). Secondary outcomes
are weight-loss at one year, self-reported physical activity at 3 and 12 months follow-up
and percentage weight-loss at 3 months and one year.
Discussion
This trial will provide evidence about the effectiveness of a range of different weight
management programmes in a primary care population.
Trial registration
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN
Background
In the UK the rates of obesity have more than doubled in the last 25 years, and being
overweight has become the norm for adults []. In , the mean body mass index (BMI) of men and women in the UK general
population was 27 kg/m2, outside the healthy range of 18.5-25 kg/m2 []. Health Survey for England 2008 data showed that nearly a quarter of men (24%) and
women (25%) were obese [], as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria of a BMI ≥ 30 []. In addition, levels of physical activity were very low with only 6% of men and 4%
of women meeting the government's current recommendations for physical activity []. A number of chronic medical conditions are associated with overweight and obesity,
including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and stroke, metabolic
syndrome, osteoarthritis and various cancers [].
Health benefits have been reported with modest weight loss of 5-10% from lifestyle
interventions, with a reduction in progression to diabetes of up to 58% over 4 years
[,]. It is essential that we identify the best ways to achieve and sustain such weight
loss in the general population. Douketis and colleagues [] undertook a systematic review of controlled trials of weight loss interventions that
had a follow-up of at least 2 years. In the trials that reported the outcomes of dietary
and lifestyle therapy, a mean (sd) weight loss of 3.5 (+/- 2.4) kg was reported after
2-3 years follow-up. However, 9 of the 16 trials reported loss to follow-up rates
ranging from 31-66% and 14 trials only reported the outcomes of study completers,
thus the effect of weight loss interventions were probably over-estimated. Systematic
reviews have reported that combined diet and exercise interventions result in a greater
weight loss than dietary interventions alone, both in the short and longer term [,]. Curioni and colleagues reported the outcomes at 1 year or more from 33 randomised
controlled trials (RCT) of diet, exercise, or diet and exercise []. Mean weight loss in diet-only trials was 4.5 +/- 11.3 kg, compared to 6.7 +/- 8.3
kg in the trials of combined diet and exercise (p = 0.063). A systematic review of
trials from the major commercial and self-help weight loss programmes in the USA concluded
that much of the evidence was sub-optimal, with many lacking evidence, poor quality
design and with high attrition rates [].
Much of the research on the effectiveness of weight loss interventions has been undertaken
in the USA []. In the UK, the effectiveness of four commercial weight loss programmes was evaluated
in a publicly funded randomised controlled trial []. This reported that all four diets (Dr Atkins' new diet revolution, Slim-Fast plan,
Weight Watchers pure points programme and Rosemary Conley's eat yourself slim diet
and fitness plan) resulted in clinically significant weight loss (average 5.9 kg)
over the six months of follow-up. However, the trial excluded people with chronic
medical conditions, such as coronary heart disease, had an upper age limit of 65 years
and obtained its participants via advertising. This approach is likely to result in
a sample that is not typical of the population trying to lose weight and targeted
by primary care. By 12 months, follow-up was only 54% and many had changed diet programme.
Weight loss at 12 months in those followed-up ranged from 9.0-10.9 kg in the groups
to which they were originally allocated.
The UK Government White paper, 'Choosing Health', identified inadequate provision
of services for obesity []. This may have stimulated development of new services because a survey of 344 primary
care organisations in 2004 found that 51% had set up weight management services in
primary care []. A feasibility study of a referral service to a commercial weight management partner
reported acceptable attrition rates and weight loss in participants []. A primary care-based programme for obesity management in the UK, the Counterweight
Programme, reported a clinically significant weight loss of 5% or more in 30% of attendees
at 12 months [-]. A small pilot trial of a 12 week nurse-led programme in general practice reported
a third of the intervention group achieving at least a 5% reduction in body weight
compared to 20% in the usual care arm []. However the effectiveness of NHS weight loss services have not been compared with
commercial providers.
This research protocol was developed in response to a need for South Birmingham Primary
Care Trust (PCT) to develop services for the management of obesity. The PCT had identified
that there were insufficient weight management services available in the National
Health Service (NHS) and wished to develop these. As part of this, general practitioners
(GPs) had been contracted to record height and weight of their patients. One option
was for GP practices or NHS pharmacies to provide weight management services, for
which the PCT would reimburse these practitioners. However, in the UK, there are many
well established commercial companies that provide weight management services that
are widely recognised and commonly used by those seeking help to lose weight. The
PCT wished to contract with services that would have a high reach, good acceptability,
and showed evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Thus the aim of this
trial was to determine the effectiveness of a range of NHS and commercial weight loss
programmes in an unselected primary care population and to determine the characteristics
of people responding to an unsolicited letter of invitation from their general practitioner.
Methods/Design
The study design is a randomised controlled trial with patients individually allocated
to one of seven weight loss programmes: (1) Weight Watchers, (2) Slimming World, (3)
Rosemary Conley (4) NHS group weight loss programme (Size Down), (5) general practice
one-to-one support, (6) one-to-one pharmacist support and (7) ch
with a minimal intervention control group provided with 12 vouchers enabling free
entrance to a local leisure centre.
Population
Eligible participants are registered with general practices in South Birmingham Primary
Care Trust, aged ≥ 18 years, with a raised BMI recorded within their primary care
notes within the previous 15 months. The BMI threshold for invitation is that which
makes them eligible for primary care obesity management services within the NHS and
varies according to ethnic group and the presence or absence of co-morbidities. The
threshold for invitation for people with no obesity-related comorbidity is a BMI of
≥ 30 Kg/m2 in any ethnic group except South Asian and BMI ≥25 Kg/m2 in South Asians. For people with obesity related comorbidity the threshold for invitation
is a BMI ≥ 28 Kg/m2 for all ethnicities apart from South Asians, for whom it is BMI ≥ 23 Kg/m2.
Their GP has to confirm that they have no medical contra-indications for any of the
intervention programmes. Patients are excluded if they are unable to understand English,
are pregnant or are unwilling to be randomised.
Recruitment commenced in January 2009. Each general practice identifies eligible patients
using a search of the computerised clinical record and invites them by standard letter
to participate in the weight loss trial. Practices are asked to exclude patients with
serious co-morbidities for whom weight loss programmes were unfeasible or inappropriate,
for example those with terminal illness. The invitation letter contains information
about the trial and a toll-free telephone number for a call centre managing the recruitment
and randomisation. The nurses at the call centre provide more information to patients
about the trial, answer questions, collect baseline information, take verbal consent
and randomise patients to the trial arms. The call centre books participants into
their first treatment session and sends confirmation, along with verification of consent
and information on how to withdraw from the trial if they change their minds. Participants
allocated to the general practice, pharmacy or minimal exercise intervention (comparator)
arms are sent details about how to arrange their first session.
The randomisation sequence was prepared by an independent statistician and to ensure
blinding, each allocation was placed in an opaque, consecutively numbered envelope.
These are used in order by the call centre staff, who record the number of the envelope
and time of randomisation to enable the study team to check these are used in the
correct order.
Following the first programme session, the call centre telephones the participants
to check whether they attended and rebook appointments if necessary. If participants
have not attended and have no wish to do so, nurses record the reasons for this.
Interventions
The content and delivery of the interventions are described in the Table . In addition the interventions have been classified according to Abraham and Michie's
taxonomy of behaviour change techniques [] by extracting the elements of the interventions from written manuals and materials
provided by the programmes.
Characteristics of weight management programmes
The participants allocated to the commercial operators Weight Watchers [], Slimming World [] and Rosemary Conley [] have a choice of programme locations and times. Commercially, these programmes run
continuously, with no set number of sessions and no fixed starting date. People who
are not participating in the trial pay fees to attend these programmes and these people
attend alongside those in the trial, for whom treatment is free. Each programme is
provided in accordance with the respective organisations' guidance and the group leaders
are trained by the organisations. The vouchers provided to trial participants exempts
them from payments for the first 12 weeks of the programme. Thereafter, if participants
wish to continue attending sessions they are required to pay the appropriate fees
to the service provider. The Size Down Programme is an NHS group-based programme in
which all members of the group commence together and follow a prescribed course of
sessions. It takes place in various community venues. Participants randomised to the
general practice or pharmacy arms attend one-to-one sessions in the general practice
or pharmacy. Appointments are made at a time mutually convenient to the participant
and the nurse/pharmacist.
In the choice arm, participants are able to choose from any of the intervention programmes
described above.
Participants allocated to the comparator group are sent vouchers for 12 free sessions
to attend a local authority run leisure centre (typically including an exercise room,
swimming pool, and other facilities such as squash or badminton courts). Participants
are not given an appointment to attend and are given no dietary or individual physical
activity advice and support. It is acknowledged that weight loss can occur with exercise-only,
but effects are modest [,].
Data collection
Baseline data
Data collected at baseline by the call centre, prior to randomisation includes: demographic
data, information on previous use of weight loss programmes including commercial services,
current physical activity levels (using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short
form (IPAQ-short)) [] and use of weight loss medication. Patients allocated to the choice arm are asked
about their reasons for choosing their programme.
When participants attend their first weight-loss session in the six interventions,
the leader/counsellor measures participants' height and weight. Scales are validated
by the research team using standardised weights, unless evidence of recent independent
validation is provided. The commercial providers often use self-reported height, so
this will be re-measured at follow-up by the blinded assessor. People in the comparator
control group and people who are randomised but who do not attend their allocated
programme are contacted and a researcher makes an appointment to measure height and
During the 12-week programmes the service providers record weights on each visit.
The comparator group are weighed at baseline only.
Outcome assessment
The primary outcome is weight loss at three months follow-up. The secondary outcomes
are self-reported physical activity using the IPAQ-Short version, weight loss at one
year and percentage weight loss at 3 months and one year.
At three months after programme start (programme end) the service providers weigh
participants. Participants who are no longer attending their allocated programme are
contacted and offered follow-up at home or another convenient location. If participants
decline to be followed-up in person, they are asked to provide a self-reported weight,
which is recorded as self-report. In addition, the IPAQ-short is administered by phone
and participants who have dropped out of their allocated programme are sent an open-ended
question asking for their views about the weight loss programme to which they were
allocated.
The final outcome assessment takes place one year after randomisation. In addition
to assessment of their BMI, participants are asked to complete the IPAQ-Short, their
opinion of the service and whether they have tried any other weight loss programmes
or strategies over the course of the year. Participants are invited to attend their
general practice for a brief appointment, where the practice nurse or a health trainer
who is blind to the allocation arm, undertake follow up measures. Participants unable
to attend their general practice will be offered home visits for measurements. If
height has not been measured previously, it is assessed using a Leicester height measure.
Participant flow through the trial is shown in figure .
Patient flow through trial.
Sample size
A sample size calculation based on detecting a 2 kg difference in weight loss at the
12 week follow-up between any of the planned interventions and comparator group, with
90% power and 5% significance level found that 70 participants randomised to each
group will be sufficient. This estimate is based on a standard deviation of 3.2 kg
[,] and allows for a 20% dropout rate. To enable a more realistic drop-out rate and to
get greater precision, 100 participants were allocated to each arm. However, not many
general practices or pharmacies were prepared to offer treatment themselves and training
places were limited, so that only 70 will be allocated to these arms. A total of 740
participants will be randomized.
Planned analysis
Both between and within group analyses for primary and secondary outcomes at programme
end and 12 months will be performed according to intention to treat. Participants
in whom weight at follow up is not available will be assumed to have their baseline
weight. However, sensitivity analysis will also be undertaken, assuming follow up
weight to be the last recorded weight.
As the outcomes are all measured on a continuous scale (weight loss, percentage weight
loss, self-reported physical activity), differences between intervention group and
the comparison (minimal intervention) group will be investigated using least squares
linear regression. Between group analyses will be expressed as both unadjusted and
adjusted differences (corrected for baseline score and covariates of age, gender,
ethnicity and educational level). A secondary analysis will compare the outcomes of
the commercial weight loss programmes (Weight Watchers, Slimming World and Rosemary
Conley) with the primary care programmes (general practice and pharmacy-based interventions).
Data on choice of programme, number of sessions attended and reasons for drop-out
will be presented using descriptive statistics.
To determine whether the service reaches those most in need, the age, gender, and
deprivation score (derived from the postcode of residence) of those who were randomised
will be compared to those who received the letter but did not respond or declined
to be randomised.
Responses to open-ended questions about experience of the service and reasons for
dropping out of their allocated programme will be categorised and presented descriptively.
An NHS perspective will be taken in the cost analysis. The price to the PCT of each
programme will be used. The cost of the call center which co-ordinated the service
will be calculated as an average per person, based on the numbers of staff employed
over a 12 month period and clients who used the service over this time period. The
mean cost per kg of weight lost will be determined for each programme.
Ethical approval
Ethical approval was granted by South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee (08/H).
Discussion
A quarter of the UK population and a similar high proportion in other countries are
obese. If primary care clinicians were to manage this disorder, it would potentially
mean a large proportion of their time being devoted to it. Commercial weight loss
organizations have a large network of treatment services that provide a cheaper alternative
to primary care services. However, the comparative effectiveness and the cost-effectiveness
is unknown. This trial aims to provide these data.
One important aspect to this work is that it is a weight loss trial recruiting in
primary care among those who have not specifically sought treatment. Many published
weight loss intervention trials treat patients in specialist obesity clinics. These
clinics provide treatment for only a minority of all people who need it. In particular,
in this study, we will be able to examine uptake of obesity management services in
response to an invitation. We are not aware of any other study that has examined uptake
in a defined population in this way.
Robust clinical trial results are not available for all the commercial providers in
this trial and for few primary care led programmes, so this research will extend knowledge
about the efficacy of commercial and community weight loss programmes. In addition
our participants were responders to an invitation from their general practitioner,
whereas many other trials have recruited volunteers, who are likely to be more motivated
to lose weight. This trial will inform decisions about which weight loss programmes
might make useful clinical contributions for patients with obesity and which might
have useful contributions to reducing the public health toll of obesity.
Abbreviations
BMI: GP: IPAQ: international physical activity
Q UK: United Kingdom.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
KJ, AD, PA, JD, JB and PA designed the study and wrote the initial protocol. KJ, AL,
AD, PA, JD, JB and PA are on the trial management committee. AL co-ordinated the study
with supervision from KJ. KJ drafted the manuscript with contributions from the other
authors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements
The trial was funded by NHS South Birmingham.
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Pre-publication history
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