‘Shape-Up’, a Modified Cognitive-Behavioural Community Programme for Weight Management: Real-World Evaluation as an Approach for Delivering Public Health Goals

Abstract

Obesity is widespread, with serious health consequences; addressing it requires considerable effort at a public health level, incorporating prevention and management along with policies to support implementation. Behavioural weight-management programmes are widely used by public health bodies to address overweight and obesity. Shape-Up is an evidence-based programme combining a structured behavioural intervention (targeting nutrition and physical activity behaviours) within a peer-learning framework. This study was a service-evaluation of Shape-Up, as delivered in Rotherham by a local leisure provider, and included a secondary analysis of data collected in the community by service providers. The RE-AIM (Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance) framework was used to explore programme effectiveness, implementation, and whom it reached. A total of 141 participants were included. Compared to local demographics, participants were older, at 48.9 (SD 14.47) years, with a lower employment rate (41% employed) and greater proportion female (67% female). Mean BMI was 38.0 (SD 7.54) kg/m2. Mean weight-change between baseline and endpoint (12 weeks, 10 group sessions) was −4.4 (SD 3.38) kg, and degree of weight change was associated with session attendance (F (9, 131) = 6.356, p < 0.0005). There were positive effects on participants’ weight, health-related behaviours, and quality of life. The intervention content (including the focus of nutritional recommendations) and structure were adapted during implementation to better suit national guidelines and local population needs. RE-AIM was found to be a useful framework for evaluating and adapting an existing evidence-based weight management programme in line with local population needs. This could be a more cost-effective approach, compared to developing new programmes, for delivering public health goals relating to obesity, nutrition, and physical activity.