Agency in Obesity study (AGIOS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does the description of Obesity as a Disease affect the uptake and response to an educational session and behavioural modification? The AGency In Obesity Study (AGIOS)
IRAS ID
268193
Contact name
Alex Miras
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Even though specialist medical communities have identified obesity as a disease, there is resistance from Government, many health professionals and also from patients to classifying obesity as a disease. One of the reasons given, and recently cited by the Secretary of State for Health, is that it would remove personal responsibility and agency from patients for their eating behavior that leads to obesity. We propose to test this by conducting a pragmatic trial of two different messaging approaches in Primary Care.
The Agency in Obesity Study (AGIOS) will test the hypothesis that patients who are informed that obesity is a disease will not take personal responsibility to adhere to treatment to the same extent as their counterparts who are informed that obesity is a risk factor.
A hundred patients with obesity (identified from Hammersmith and Fulham Partnership will be randomised in 1:1 ratio to receive a letter describing obesity as a disease (Group 1) or as a risk factor (Group 2). The letter will invite them to an educational session (following on the theme from the letter) at their GP surgery. Attendance at that session will be recorded as the primary outcome. Then patients will be referred for further follow up to a local NHS service. Attendance at local NHS service and change in weight/BMI at the end of the programme will be recorded as the secondary outcomes. This will be a trial run by medical professionals from Hammersmith and Fulham Partnership and Imperial College London.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/1253
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion