Weight Management for high BMI cases with co-morbidity issues

1. Case Study Bradford and Airedale
Teaching Primary Care Trust
Back To Basics Programme
I was particularly excited to be involved in a new initiative such as Fitbug and also by the fact
that it would both help motivate me on a day to day basis and encourage a new healthy way
of life in the long term. The Back to Basics programme has quite simply changed my life. I
have lost over 4 stone, swim regularly non stop for at least 50 minutes a session and walk as
much as I can. I have loved having my Bug and I couldn’t imagine life without it now.
Jane Blake, Patient
120
kg
100
kg
The Brief:
80
kg
Fitbug was asked to support a 12 month obesity pilot delivered by Bradford & Airedale PCT. The aim of
60
kg the pilot was to:
• S
upport and motivate patients to achieve a clinically relevant weight loss of 5-10% of initial body weight.
• T
ackle both diet and activity through the use of the “Bug” (accelerometer) and the provision of healthy
eating advice.
• O
ffer ongoing support and motivation face to face via group meetings, and remotely via SMS and email.
Our Solution:
• E
ach patient was given a “Bug” (downloadable accelerometer) and membership to fitbug.com at the
start of the pilot.
• P
atients attended weekly group sessions to get weighed, receive healthy eating and behaviour
change advice, and view their activity progress and nutrition intake at fitbug.com
• D
uring the pilot, Fitbug sent weekly activity and nutrition targets, plus motivation and advice to all
patients via SMS and email.
The Results:
Results were independently evaluated by Nicola Crichton, Professor of Health Statistics at London South
Bank University.
• A
t each time point (3, 6, 9 and 12 months) the reduction in both weight and BMI was statistically
significant and there was evidence of a trend of increasing weight loss over the 12 month period. At 12
months, 46% of the original group were still continuing with the programme.
• I
n the first 12 weeks of the pilot, 35.7% of the group lost 5% or more of their body weight, 43.1% lost
4% or more. At 12 months, the average weight loss was 11.08kg, with an average reduction of 4.15
kg/m² in BMI.
(continued overleaf)

2. Case Study Bradford and Airedale
Teaching Primary Care Trust
Back To Basics Programme
The Results (continued):
120
kg
100
kg
80
kg
-
60
• I
n relation to activity, there was a week by week increase in total (and aerobic steps) from weeks 1
kg
through to 6 and this increase was sustained from week 6 to week 45. Overall, the increase in activity is
significant for both total and aerobic steps (p=0.004 and p<0.001 respectively