Public health
Open group behavioural weight management programmes can lead to sustained weight loss after 5 years
Participants in a trial in England were randomly assigned to one of three weight-loss interventions
o Brief intervention
o 12-week open group behavioural programme (WW, formerly Weight Watchers)
o 52-week open group behavioural programme (WW)
At 5-year follow-up, all three groups had maintained some weight loss. The difference between groups wasn’t significant.
The 12-week programme incurred the lowest cost and produced the greatest Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) after 5 years. However, simulations beyond 5 years suggested the 52-wk programme would deliver the highest QALYs at the lowest cost in the longer-term.
WiseGP Actions
Encourage patients motivated to lose weight to consider participating in a behavioural weight management programme, highlighting that it can lead to sustained weight loss at 5 years.
Explore if your PCN dietician has links with community groups providing weight management programmes and if they signpost onto these services for ongoing support.
Read more here:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(22)00226-2/fulltext
