ASPIRE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adding to Social capital and individual Potential In disadvantaged REgions (ASPIRE)
IRAS ID
288333
Contact name
Sophia Amenyah
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bournemouth University
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN17609001
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
ISRCTN17609001, ISRCTN registry
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 28 days
Research summary
Obesity across the France and England is a significant concern, with high levels of obesity coinciding with high rates of unemployment across the zone. According to a UN report, one-quarter of British adults are obese with 63.1% of people in south-east England and 62.7% in south-west England overweight. Fresh, local healthy food options are often more expensive and more difficult to cook. While we know the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, with nutritious diet, physical activity and social interaction, many people still do not meet recommended guidelines for physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption. We also know that a person struggling with their weight or wellbeing can have difficulties finding work due to a lack of self-confidence and feeling the pressures of stigma. Whilst a person who is out of regular work or activity may also struggle to maintain a healthy weight.
ASPIRE will target individuals with obesity, overweight or who are unemployed in France and England, using food production as a way to increase awareness and engagement, reduce weight, increase self-esteem and improve employability via new skills and work experience. ASPIRE will give obese/overweight and/or unemployed people the tools they need to make healthier lifestyle choices and improve their employability. Current health and employment services rarely work together to tackle the issues as one problem, despite the evidence that they are linked.
The new model, co-created using partner expertise in both fields, will combine the necessary support to increase employability with access to local healthy food produce and consequent weight loss. The model will enable participants to improve their relationship with food and provide them with the skills and support they need to gain access to the labour market.REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/EM/0113
Date of REC Opinion
10 Jun 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion