Supporting weight management (SWiM) feasibility study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN12685964 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12685964 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 279784 |
| Protocol serial number | CPMS 48220, IRAS 279784 |
| Sponsor | University of Cambridge |
| Funders | NIHR Central Commissioning Facility (CCF); Grant Codes: RP-PG-0216-20010, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) |
- Submission date
- 04/03/2021
- Registration date
- 05/03/2021
- Last edited
- 30/06/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
The cost-effectiveness and long-term impact of behavioural weight management programmes depends on weight loss maintenance. Systematic reviews show that most weight is regained within 3-5 years, even after specialist-led behavioural programmes. Extended use of traditional behavioural strategies (e.g. self- monitoring, problem solving) can improve weight loss maintenance to some extent, but new approaches are needed to maximise the benefits of behavioural weight management programmes.
There is growing evidence to suggest that interventions based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) may be more effective for longer-term weight control and can improve some psychological determinants of weight loss maintenance. However, to date most studies have been conducted in a US setting and the cost-effectiveness of this type of intervention has not been evaluated. Acceptance-based programmes are usually psychologist-led and the cost and scarcity of psychologists specialising in obesity could limit their use in countries with a national health care system. There is currently insufficient evidence on cost-effectiveness or the importance of facilitator expertise and mode of delivery to recommend scalable implementation of acceptance-based interventions, particularly in the context of weight loss maintenance.
We developed the SWiM (Supporting Weight Management) programme as a guided self-help programme that uses acceptance-based treatment and specifically focusses on supporting post-treatment weight loss maintenance. SWiM uses digital technology and non-specialists to minimise resources needed to deliver an acceptance-based programme at scale. SWiM is intended to be used after someone has completed a standard behavioural weight management programme, and seeks to reinforce what helped people to lose weight and teach new skills and strategies for the longer term. The current study is designed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the SWiM intervention and to inform the development of a protocol for a full scale trial examining its cost-effectiveness compared to standard care.
Who can participate?
Persons aged 18 years or older, who have completed a weight loss programme in the last 3 months.
What does the study involve?
The SWiM feasibility study will test two programmes which are designed to help people maintain weight loss after completing a weight management programme. Two thirds of participants will receive a new web-based weight loss maintenance programme called “Supporting Weight Management” (SWiM) and 4 telephone support calls with a coach. One third of participants will receive standard care which is a booklet of helpful hints and tips for weight loss maintenance.
We will ask participants to complete two online questionnaires – one at the start of the study and another 6 months later. At the end of the study we will compare changes in weight and other outcomes between the two groups to see if the programme has helped participants or not.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
BENEFITS: The information you provide in this study will help our research into the prevention and treatment of weight related health problems. You will be part of a unique study that may be helpful in providing better support for weight management in the UK. You will receive one of two treatments which may help to improve your health.
RISKS: Other than the time it takes you to complete the online questionnaires, there should be very little risk or disadvantage to taking part.
Where is the study run from?
MRC Epidemiology Unit (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2020 to December 2022.
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK).
Who is the main contact?
Dr Amy Ahern, amy.ahern@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge
Level 3 Institute of Metabolic Science
Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0SL
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)1223 769138 |
|---|---|
| amy.ahern@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomized; Both; Design type: Treatment, Education or Self-Management, Psychological & Behavioural, Qualitative |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Acceptability and feasibility of an acceptance and commitment therapy-based guided self-help programme for weight loss maintenance in adults who have previously completed a behavioural weight loss programme: the SWiM feasibility study |
| Study acronym | SWiM |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the SWiM intervention and to inform the development of a future trial which evaluates effectiveness and cost effectiveness by minimising uncertainties about trial parameters. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 15/03/2021, Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee (Level 3, Block B, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NT, UK; +44 (0)207 104 8104; cambridgesouth.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 21/EE/0024 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Weight loss in obesity and overweight |
| Intervention | Current intervention as of 24/01/2022: Following informed consent, participants will be asked to complete online assessments at 0 and 6 months. This will include: - Self-measured height and weight - Questionnaires Interventions Following baseline measurements, the study team will notify the participant of their intervention group (randomly allocated using a computer-generated sequence) and will talk them through the intervention materials. 1. Supporting Weight Management (SWiM) programme SWiM (Supporting Weight Management) is a guided self-help programme that uses acceptance -based strategies to support weight maintenance following weight loss. It aims to help people who have lost weight to reflect on what has worked (and not worked) in the past, build on what works for them, and learn new strategies to overcome challenges that typically derail weight loss maintenance. The intervention includes access to an online web platform with 14 modules (SWiM sessions) consisting of psychoeducational content, reflective exercises, and behavioural experiments. SWiM is intended to be a 4 month intervention, with weekly sessions for the first 3 months followed by a month break, then a final session at week 18. Participants are encouraged to weigh themselves weekly and to record their weight at the start of each session. Between sessions, participants are asked to complete more reflective exercises and behavioural experiments as ‘SWiM Practice’. To guide them through the programme, participants receive 4 telephone support calls from a “SWiM coach” over the 4 month programme. Calls are scheduled for after session 1 (activation call), session 3, session 8 and session 14. The coach’s role is to help the participant take ownership of their weight management and the calls are scripted and manualised. Automated email reminders are sent to participants to remind them to complete sessions and calls. 2. Control Intervention Participants who are randomised to the control arm will receive a booklet about weight loss maintenance which helps them to make a personalised weight maintenance plan and is similar to that implemented in tier 2 weight management services. Participants will complete a series of self-report questionnaires, which will be completed online. This will include: - Demographics questionnaire - Quality of life and wellbeing - Economic evaluation - Psychosocial factors - Intervention evaluation and intervention adherence Participants will be given a participant specific web link to complete the questionnaire. The study coordinator will send email/phone reminders to participants if a completed questionnaire has not been received after 7 days. Previous intervention: Following informed consent, participants will be asked to complete online assessments at 0 and 6 months. This will include: - Self-measured height and weight - Questionnaires Interventions Following baseline measurements, the study team will notify the participant of their intervention group (randomly allocated using a computer-generated sequence) and will talk them through the intervention materials. 1. Supporting Weight Management (SWiM) programme SWiM (Supporting Weight Management) is a guided self-help programme that uses acceptance -based strategies to support weight maintenance following weight loss. It aims to help people who have lost weight to reflect on what has worked (and not worked) in the past, build on what works for them, and learn new strategies to overcome challenges that typically derail weight loss maintenance. The intervention includes access to an online web platform with 14 modules (SWiM sessions) consisting of psychoeducational content, reflective exercises, and behavioural experiments. SWiM is intended to be a 4 month intervention, with weekly sessions for the first 3 months followed by a month break, then a final module at week 17. Participants are encouraged to weigh themselves weekly and to record their weight at the start of each session. Between sessions, participants are asked to complete more reflective exercises and behavioural experiments as ‘SWiM Practice’. To guide them through the programme, participants receive 4 telephone support calls from a “SWiM coach” over the 4 month programme. Calls are scheduled for week 1 (activation call), week 3, week 8 and week 17. The coach’s role is to help the participant take ownership of their weight management and the calls are scripted and manualised. Automated email reminders are sent to participants to remind them to complete sessions and calls. 2. Control Intervention Participants who are randomised to the control arm will receive a booklet about weight loss maintenance which helps them to make a personalised weight maintenance plan and is similar to that implemented in tier 2 weight management services. Participants will complete a series of self-report questionnaires, which will be completed online. This will include: - Demographics questionnaire - Quality of life and wellbeing - Economic evaluation - Psychosocial factors - Intervention evaluation and intervention adherence Participants will be given a participant specific web link to complete the questionnaire. The study coordinator will send email/phone reminders to participants if a completed questionnaire has not been received after 7 days. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Current primary outcome measure as of 24/01/2022: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
There are no secondary outcome measures |
| Completion date | 31/12/2022 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 60 |
| Total final enrolment | 61 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Age >=18 years 2. Completed a weight loss programme in the last 3 months 3. Capable of giving informed consent 4. Have a good understanding of the English language (for the pilot study, materials are not tailored to support non-English language speakers) 5. Willing to be randomised 6. Willing to complete study measurements 7. Able to access the web-based platform from home 8. Who own a set of scales that they can weigh themselves with during the study |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Using insulin 2. Previous/planned bariatric surgery 3. Current/planned pregnancy 4. Current diagnosis of eating disorder |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/05/2021 |
| Date of final enrolment | 11/11/2021 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Box 285, Institute of Metabolic Sciences
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Plain English results | 30/06/2023 | No | Yes | ||
| Protocol file | version 5.0 | 12/07/2022 | 04/10/2022 | No | No |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Additional files
- ISRCTN12685964_PROTOCOL_v5.0_12Jul22.pdf
- Protocol file
- ISRCTN12685964 Lay summary of results (SWiM-F).pdf
- Plain English results
Editorial Notes
30/06/2023: A file containing plain English results was added.
04/10/2022: Uploaded protocol (not peer reviewed).
05/04/2022: The recruitment end date was changed from 01/05/2022 to 11/11/2021. Total final enrolment added.
24/01/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The scientific title has been changed from "Acceptability and feasibility of an acceptance-based guided self-help programme for weight loss maintenance in adults who have previously completed a behavioural weight loss programme: the SWiM feasibility study" to "Acceptability and feasibility of an acceptance and commitment therapy-based guided self-help programme for weight loss maintenance in adults who have previously completed a behavioural weight loss programme: the SWiM feasibility study".
2. The intervention has been updated.
3. The primary outcome measure has been updated.
15/03/2021: The ethics approval was added.
04/03/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK).
