MotiVar: Motivating weightloss through a personalised avatar
Research type
Research Study
Full title
MotiVar: Motivating weight loss through a personalised avatar
IRAS ID
219929
Contact name
Maryann Hardy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
Population obesity is a UK health priority. Obesity increases the risk of ill health (e.g. diabetes, heart disease, cancer, depression) as well as demand for, and cost of, healthcare services. Adult obesity interventions rely mainly on individuals reducing food (calorie) intake and increasing physical activity
but lack of sustained motivation and poor adherence to diet plans remain key barriers to weight loss success.Virtual reality technology is expanding rapidly. This has great potential for supporting weight loss through the use of a personalised avatar (computerised image of oneself). Experimental studies have shown that an individual’s behaviour can be positively influenced by changing the appearance, experience and behaviour of an avatar. Experiments have also shown that when different potential futures are presented to an individual through an avatar, their behaviour changes to enable achievement of their preferred future option. We aim to develop an avatar programme to support weight loss.
A computer programme for generating self-resembling avatars will be developed through a series of design phases with feedback from service users and healthcare professionals. The final prototype will allow individuals to see their avatar gaining/losing weight and the influence this has on their health risks. The avatar programme will be tested within a NHS weight loss clinic as a two arm (intervention and routine care) clinical feasibility study. With the help of healthcare professionals, data will be collected on weight loss, patient feelings about weight loss and their experience of using the avatar
programme. The study findings will determine whether a full clinical trial is warranted to test the impact of avatar technology on population weight loss.The study findings will be presented to service users, healthcare professionals, policy makers and commissioners through a dissemination event, conferences and publications. We will also engage the wider community through online virtual reality technology portals.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NE/0286
Date of REC Opinion
12 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion