Weight outcomes audit in 1.3 million adults during their first 3 months' attendance in a commercial weight management programme.

BACKGROUND: Over sixty percent of adults in the UK are now overweight/obese. Weight management on a national scale requires behavioural and lifestyle solutions that are accessible to large numbers of people. Evidence suggests commercial weight management programmes help people manage their weight but there is little research examining those that pay to attend such programmes rather than being referred by primary care. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of a UK commercial weight management programme in self-referred, fee-paying participants. METHODS: Electronic weekly weight records were collated for self-referred, fee-paying participants of Slimming World groups joining between January 2010 and April 2012. This analysis reports weight outcomes in 1,356,105 adult, non-pregnant participants during their first 3 months' attendance. Data were analysed by regression, ANOVA and for binomial outcomes, chi-squared tests using the R statistical program. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age was 42.3 (13.6) years, height 1.65 m (0.08) and start weight was 88.4 kg (18.8). Mean start BMI was 32.6 kg/m(2) (6.3 kg/m(2)) and 5 % of participants were men. Mean weight change of all participants was -3.9 kg (3.6), percent weight change -4.4 (3.8), and BMI change was -1.4 kg/m(2) (1.3). Mean attendance was 7.8 (4.3) sessions in their first 3 months. For participants attending at least 75 % of possible weekly sessions (n = 478,772), mean BMI change was -2.5 kg/m(2) (1.3), weight change -6.8 kg (3.7) and percent weight change -7.5 % (3.5). Weight loss was greater in men than women absolutely (-6.5 (5.3) kg vs -3.8 (3.4) kg) and as a percentage (5.7 % (4.4) vs 4.3 % (3.7)), respectively. All comparisons were significant (p < 0.001). Level of attendance and percent weight loss in the first week of attendance together accounted for 55 % of the variability in weight lost during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: A large-scale commercial lifestyle-based weight management programme had a significant impact on weight loss outcomes over 3 months. Higher levels of attendance led to levels of weight loss known to be associated with significant clinical benefits, which on this scale may have an impact on public health.

A service evaluation of more than 1 million self-funding adults attending a community weight management programme.

Scaled interventions are required to address levels of overweight and obesity and reduce health inequalities. Little data is available on the effectiveness of community weight management programmes for participants self-selecting to attend across different socio-economic backgrounds. This analysis investigates 3, 6, and 12-month outcomes of adults joining a real-life community weight management programme. Weight, attendance and Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) data from all fee-paying adults joining Slimming World in 2016 were collated. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to determine predictors of weight loss. Mean BMI of 1 094 676 adults (7.6% male) was 33.0 ± 6.4 kg/m2. Mean % weight change at 3, 6, and 12 months was -5.0% ± 3.6%, -5.9% ± 5.2%, and -6.0% ± 5.8%. Those attending 75% sessions achieved greater weight loss with mean weight losses at 3, 6, and 12-months of 7.7% ± 3.3%, 11.3% ± 5.2%, and 14.1% ± 7.5%, respectively. Effect sizes from comparison of weight change between deprivation deciles were negligible, with similar outcomes in the most and least deprived deciles at 12-months (-5.7% ± 5.9% vs. -6.2% ± 5.9%). This service evaluation of more than 1 million adults attending a community weight management programme found they were able to achieve and/or maintain an average 6% weight loss at 12 months, with high attenders achieving >14% loss. Men and those with higher levels of deprivation were accessing the support and achieving significant weight losses. Slimming World as a real-life, scalable weight management programme is well placed to help adults manage their weight and address health inequalities.

The benefits of non-surgical weight management on weight and glycaemic control in people with complex type 2 diabetes: A primary care service evaluation of clinical outcomes at 12 months.

Optimizing diabetes management in patients with complex type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity presents challenges. This study evaluates weight and HbA1c at 12 months (primary outcomes) and blood pressure, lipids, medication and lifestyle changes (secondary outcomes) in patients referred by a diabetes specialist (DSN) to the weight management intervention (Slimming World). Patients attended up to 12 or 24 funded weekly group sessions. The DSN recorded baseline and 12-month primary and secondary outcome data. A post-intervention questionnaire explored the lifestyle changes made. 69 patients achieved a mean weight loss of 5.5 (5.16) %, reduction in BMI [37.7(6.11) to 35.9 (6.30) kg/m2, P < 0.001] and HbA1c levels [62.8 (12.85) to 55.0 (13.02) mmol/mol, P < 0.001] at 12 months. 81.2% reduced their HbA1c levels. Small reductions were observed in SBP, DBP and triglycerides, and six patients reduced their diabetes medications. Twenty patients completed the questionnaire: unhealthy snacking reduced (P < 0.001) and going for walks increased (P < 0.001) with fewer people avoiding moderate activity (P < 0.05). Despite being a chronic, progressive condition, referral to a community-based programme was successful in supporting patients with established T2DM improve their diet and activity levels, lose weight and improve their glycaemic control 12 months later with a small number able to reduce their medication.

Service evaluation of weight outcomes as a function of initial BMI in 34,271 adults referred to a primary care/commercial weight management partnership scheme.

BACKGROUND: It is not clear if behaviour change programmes are more or less effective for weight management in people with high BMIs than for those who are moderately overweight. An earlier service evaluation reported on the rate and extent of weight loss in a primary care/commercial weight management organisation partnership scheme, in 34,271 patients were referred by their health care professionals to a UK commercial weight management organisation, Slimming World for 12 weekly sessions. This project updated that service evaluation by examining weight loss outcomes as a function of initial BMI in the same 34,271 patients. FINDINGS: Patients referred to the scheme (n = 34,271) were categorised by BMI groups <30 kg/m(2), 30-34.9 kg/m(2), 35-39.9 kg/m(2) and to ≥ 40 kg/m(2). Mean weight losses after 12 weekly sessions were 2.9, 3.6, 4.1, and 4.8 kg for each BMI category respectively. Regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age and gender, relative to the <30 kg/m(2) group, absolute weight losses were 0.8, 1.4 and 2.4 kg more for the 30-34.9 kg/m(2), 35-39.9 kg/m(2) and to ≥ 40 kg/m(2) groups, respectively (all p<0.001). Percent weight loss was similar in each BMI category: 3.7%, 4.0%, 4.0% and 3.9%, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This service evaluation demonstrates that 12 week referral to a commercial organisation is as effective for people with high BMIs as for those who are moderately overweight.

Weight outcomes audit for 34,271 adults referred to a primary care/commercial weight management partnership scheme.

OBJECTIVE: This project audited rate and extent of weight loss in a primary care/commercial weight management organisation partnership scheme. METHODS: 34,271 patients were referred to Slimming World for 12 weekly sessions. Data were analysed using individual weekly weight records. RESULTS: Average (SD) BMI change was -1.5 kg/m² (1.3), weight change -4.0 kg (3.7), percent weight change -4.0% (3.6), rate of weight change -0.3 kg/week, and number of sessions attended 8.9 (3.6) of 12. For patients attending at least 10 of 12 sessions (n = 19,907 or 58.1%), average (SD) BMI change was -2.0 kg/m² (1.3), weight change -5.5 kg (3.8), percent weight change -5.5% (3.5), rate of weight change -0.4 kg/week, and average number of sessions attended was 11.5 (0.7) (p < 0.001, compared to all patients). Weight loss was greater in men (n = 3,651) than in women (n = 30,620) (p < 0.001). 35.8% of all patients enrolled and 54.7% in patients attending 10 or more sessions achieved at least 5% weight loss. Weight gain was prevented in 92.1% of all patients referred. Attendance explained 29.6% and percent weight lost in week 1 explained 18.4% of the variance in weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Referral to a commercial organisation is a practical option for National Health Service (NHS) weight management strategies, which achieves clinically safe and effective weight loss.