Article
Details
Citation
Cowie J, Findlay S, Archibald R, Currie S, Campbell P, Hutcheon D, van der Pol M, MacLennan G, Cook E, Lock B & Hoddinott P (2025) Feasibility study of a co-designed, evidence-informed and community-based incentive intervention to promote healthy weight and well-being in disadvantaged communities in Scotland. BMJ Open, 15, Art. No.: e092908. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092908
Abstract
Objectives: To feasibility test a novel community-based financial incentive scheme to promote healthy weight and well-being.
Design: Single-arm, prospective feasibility study using mixed methods.
Setting: Two communities in Scotland experiencing high levels of disadvantage according to the Scottish Index for Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Community C1 is in a large rural area with a small town centre (population~1.5K) and community C2 is a small and urban community (population~9K), enabling contextual comparison.
Participants: Eligible adult (18 years or over) community members recruited through community outreach.
Intervention: The Enjoy Life LocallY (ELLY) intervention comprised free soup twice weekly (caf¨¦/delivery/pickup); loyalty card stamped for engagement in community assets (such as local activities, groups and clubs) exchanged for a ?25 shopping card when a participant attends a minimum of 9 assets over 12 weeks; goal setting; information resources; self-monitoring of weight and well-being.
Outcomes: Primary outcomes¡ªfeasibility of recruitment, retention and engagement. Acceptability of intervention components was assessed by self-reported questionnaires and interviews. Secondary outcomes¡ªfeasibility of collecting outcomes prioritised by communities for a future trial: health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), mental wellbeing (WEMWBS), connectedness (Social Connectedness Scale) and weight-related measures (weight, body mass index (BMI)).
Results Over 3 months, 75 community citizens (35 citizens in C1, 40 citizens in C2) were recruited (125% of target recruitment of 60 participants (117% of 30 participants C1 target, 133% of 30 participants C2 target), 84% female, baseline weight mean (SD)=84.8 kg (20) and BMI mean (SD)=31.9 kg/m2 (7.3), 65/75 (87%) living in
disadvantaged areas (SIMD quintiles 1¨C3)). Retention at 12 weeks, defined by completion of outcome measures at 12 weeks, was 65 (87%). Participation in at least one asset for a minimum of 9 out of 12 weeks of the intervention was achieved by 55 (73%). All intervention components were acceptable, with the loyalty card being the most
popular and the soup caf¨¦s the least popular. The mean average cost of the soup ingredients, per participant, over the 12 weeks was ?12.02. Outcome data showed a small decrease in weight and BMI and a small increase in health-related quality of life, mental well-being and social connectedness.
Conclusions: The ELLY study recruited and retained participants from two disadvantaged communities in Scotland. The study was acceptable to participants and feasible to deliver. A full trial is warranted to determine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, with consideration of scalability.
Journal
BMJ Open: Volume 15
Status | Published |
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Funders | |
Publication date | 31/12/2025 |
Publication date online | 28/02/2025 |
Date accepted by journal | 17/01/2025 |
URL | |
Publisher | BMJ |
eISSN | 2044-6055 |
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Senior Lecturer, Psychology