Identifying Preferred Features of Weight Loss Programs for Adults With or at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Discrete Choice Experiment With 3,960 Adults in the U.K.

Buckell, John; Mitchell, Caroline A.; Fryer, Kate; Newbert, Carolyn; Brennan, Alan; Joyce, Jack; Jebb, Susan A.; Aveyard, Paul; Guess, Nicola; Morris, Elizabeth

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To understand preferences for features of weight loss programs among adults with or at risk of type 2 diabetes in the U.K.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We conducted a discrete choice experiment with 3,960 U.K. adults living with overweight (n = 675 with type 2 diabetes). Preferences for seven characteristics of weight loss programs were analyzed. Simulations from choice models using the experimental data predicted uptake of available weight loss programs. Patient groups comprising those who have experience with weight loss programs, including from minority communities, informed the experimental design.

RESULTS
Preferences did not differ between individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. Preferences were strongest for type of diet. Healthy eating was most preferred relative to total diet replacement (odds ratio [OR] 2.24; 95% CI 2.04–2.44). Individual interventions were more popular than group interventions (OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.34–1.47). Participants preferred programs offering weight loss of 10–15 kg (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.28–1.47) to those offering loss of 2–4 kg. Online content was preferred over in-person contact (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.18–1.30). There were few differences in preferences by gender or ethnicity, although weight loss was more important to women than to men, and individuals from ethnic minority populations identified more with programs where others shared their characteristics. Modeling suggested that tailoring programs to individual preferences could increase participation by ∼17 percentage points (68% in relative terms).

CONCLUSIONS
Offering a range of weight loss programs targeting the preferred attributes of different patient groups could potentially encourage more people to participate in weight loss programs and support those living with overweight to reduce their weight.

Citation

Buckell, J., Mitchell, C. A., Fryer, K., Newbert, C., Brennan, A., Joyce, J., Jebb, S. A., Aveyard, P., Guess, N., & Morris, E. (2024). Identifying Preferred Features of Weight Loss Programs for Adults With or at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Discrete Choice Experiment With 3,960 Adults in the U.K. Diabetes Care, 47(4), 739-746. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-2019

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 24, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 20, 2024
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Dec 12, 2024
• Journal: Diabetes Care
• Print ISSN: 0149-5992
• Electronic ISSN: 1935-5548
• Publisher: American Diabetes Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 739-746
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-2019
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1014691