Research recommendation(s) from an individual piece of guidance
- Guidance:
- Weight management: lifestyle services for overweight or obese adults
- Date issued:
-
Research recommendations coming out of this guidance
-
How effective are lifestyle weight management programmes available in the UK, when directly compared using high-quality trials? In particular, what effect do specific components of a multicomponent lifestyle weight management programme have on adherence, effectiveness and cost effectiveness? This includes:
- components, or combinations of components, that support weight loss or the prevention of weight regain
- the effect of programme length, intensity, setting and means of delivery (examples of the latter include group, individual and remote support)
- specific behaviour change techniques (using a recognised taxonomy)
- the effect of new technologies
- the effect of additional support services, such as self-help groups and networks approaches to commissioning
- processes for collecting long-term follow-up data.
-
How effective and cost effective are lifestyle weight management programmes available in the UK over at least at least 3 to 5 years, and ideally beyond 10 years. Specifically:
- Do short-term (12-week) interventions provide adults with the self-management skills they need to maintain weight loss in the long term?
- Are alternative approaches to weight management (such as approaches that focus on a healthy lifestyle, behaviour change and the prevention of weight gain rather than weight loss) effective and cost effective in the long term?
- How effective and cost effective are programmes for people of different ages, gender, sexuality or from different ethnic or socioeconomic groups?
- How effective and cost effective are programmes for specific population groups, such as adults with depression or with disabilities?
-
What is the effect of lifestyle weight management programmes available in the UK on:
- Changes to dietary habits and choices, physical activity level and sedentary behaviour?
- Wider lifestyle factors, such as sleeping patterns or stress management?
- Psychological issues, such as body confidence or attitude, depression, anxiety or self-esteem?
- Health conditions, such as changes to blood pressure or lipids?
- Unintended outcomes such as musculoskeletal injuries, symptoms of an eating disorder; increased anxiety or depression?
- User adherence and satisfaction?
- Quality of life?
-
How can referrals to other services after involvement in a lifestyle weight management service be as effective and cost effective as possible? This includes: re-referrals to a lifestyle weight management service, referrals to other tiers of weight management services or referrals to other specialist services (such as alcohol or substance misuse). In particular:-
- How long should people wait before being re-referred to a programme?
- Does re-referral to the same (or a similar programme) influence adherence, effectiveness or cost effectiveness?
- In what circumstances should participants not be re-referred to the same (or a similar programme)?
- Who is best placed to provide ongoing support after the programme, and does this differ according to whether someone completed the programme or met their weight loss goal?
- Are there any unintended or adverse effects from repeated attempts to lose weight?
-
What effect does lifestyle weight management training for health professionals and lifestyle weight management staff have on:
- The referral process, including patient satisfaction?
- Programme outcomes (weight loss and prevention of weight regain), adherence to the programme and participants' satisfaction with it?
- Staff confidence in discussing weight issues and any concerns about their own weight?
- Staff ability to deliver the programme?
- General approach of staff (that is, whether they adopt a 'respectful and nonjudgemental' approach as a result)?