Pilot randomised controlled trial of Weight Watchers® referral with or without dietitian-led group support for weight loss in women treated for breast cancer: the BRIGHT (BReast cancer weIGHT loss) trial
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Being overweight or obese following breast cancer diagnosis can increase cancer recurrence and mortality, so effective interventions for weight loss in this group could enhance survival. A pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted to assess whether a weight loss programme comprising generic Weight Watchers® referral offered to women treated for breast cancer with or without additional breast cancer-tailored dietetic support is feasible and shows promise for improving weight and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: = 15). Feasibility was assessed based on retention rate, recruitment and randomisation process, meeting attendance, suitability of the setting and outcome measurement tools, unintended consequences, cost and observations of the dietetic sessions. Outcomes were measured at 0, 3 ('trial exit') and 12 months post intervention. RESULTS: ) were randomised. Data from 38 (84%) and 30 (67%) participants were available at trial exit and 12 months respectively. Feasibility issues included slow recruitment process, lack of blinding throughout, weighing scales not measuring > 150 kg, lack of clear instructions for completing QoL questionnaire and workload and time pressures in delivering dietetic sessions. Participants had good attendance rate at group meetings and no serious unintended consequences were reported. WW Plus was most expensive to run. Mean (95% CI) weight change at trial exit was - 3.67 kg (- 5.67, - 2.07) in WW Plus, - 6.03 kg (- 7.61, - 4.44) in WW group and + 0.19 kg (- 1.45, + 1.83) in control group. About 40% of the WW Plus, 64% of the WW group and 56% of the control group lost ≥ 5% of their baseline weight by 12 months. All groups showed promise for improving QoL at trial exit but only the WW group maintained significant improvements from baseline at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The trial procedures were feasible, with some modifications. This pilot trial indicates the benefits of providing free WW vouchers for weight loss maintenance and improving QoL but provided no evidence that including additional dietetic support would add any extra value. Further research with WW with long-term follow-up should be undertaken to assess weight loss sustainability and benefit on health outcomes in this patient group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN-29623418.
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Some pilot trial publications have effectively reported pilot trial findings in a similar format to GRADE Summary of Findings tables.
“some pilot trial publications have effectively reported pilot trial findings in a similar format [32–35].”
From Recommendations for progression criteria during external randomised pilot trial design, conduct, analysis and reporting (2023) · cites this paper as [33]
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- [27]Newlands R Clark J Craig L McNeill G Hoddinott P Heys S A survey to inform the design of a weight loss programme for overweight and obese women treated for breast cancer Proceedings of the Future Food and Health: April 5–6 2012 Aberdeen The Nutrition Society
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- Authors
- Newlands, R. S. N., Ntessalen, M., Clark, J., Fielding, S., Hoddinott, P., Heys, S. D., McNeill, G., & Craig, L. C. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Aberdeen (GB)
- NHS Grampian (GB)
- University of Stirling (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Newlands, Rumana S. N.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Pilot and Feasibility Studies
- Published
- 2019-02-13
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 24-24
- ISSN
- 2055-5784 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6373055
- OpenAlex
- W2913871627
- Cited by
- 7
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 0.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Pilot and Feasibility Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Aberdeen University Research Archive (Aberdeen University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Stirling Online Research Repository (University of Stirling) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division
- Scottish Government
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR200268)
- Medical Research Council (MR/K025643/1)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- breast cancer survivors, weight loss, obesity, Weight Watchers, weight management interventions, quality of life, feasibility, weight loss maintenance, dietetic support, cancer recurrence risk, intervention costs, breast cancer patients, weight loss sustainability
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