Objective
Most adults who try to lose weight fail to maintain it. Obesity is a key economic and healthcare challenge for Europe. Effective interventions and commercial programmes for weight loss are widely available, but most people re-gain their lost weight. Currently few comprehensive solutions exist to help Europeans manage weight loss maintenance (WLM).
Current research suggests the most promising evidence-based behaviour change techniques for WLM are self-monitoring, goal setting, action control, building self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation. Recent research also suggests that stress management and emotion regulation skills are key enablers of relapse prevention and weight-regain.
Information technology offers attractive tools for teaching and supporting these techniques, some of which are currently delivered through resource-intensive face-to-face therapies. ICT-delivery includes networked-wireless tracking technologies, weighing-scales and activity sensors, online tools and smart-phone apps, multi-media resources and internet-based support. A broad choice of tools is most likely to be acceptable to users, who can pick and choose their own preferred technologies.
The NoHoW project tests whether ICT-based delivery of the most promising evidence-based behavior change techniques is effective for WLM. We will carry out a large-scale international 3-centre trial of information technology tools that implement the most up-to-date behavioural science research. This trial will establish the effectiveness of these ICT tools in supporting WLM, linked to studies of European consumer needs and behaviour.
Impact: The project will directly feed results into development of new products and services from the UK’s largest commercial weight-loss provider, Slimming World providing immediate benefit to 500,000+ consumers. Commercialisation of project results will provide much needed WLM services that promote health education and long-term weight management programmes.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsmobile phones
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionobesity
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
3400 Hillerod
Denmark
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Participants (13)
DD2 5DA Dundee
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TW12 1NJ Hampton Hill
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1649 004 Lisboa
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DE55 4RF ALFRETON DERBYSHIRE
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NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne
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02150 Espoo
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8000 Aarhus C
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3004-531 Coimbra
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Participation ended
YO23 1NP YORK
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Participation ended
DE22 1GB Derby
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A94 K542 Blackrock
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1495-688 Cruz Quebrada Lisboa
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LS2 9JT Leeds
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