Weight cHange for people with sErious mEntal iLlness (WHEEL)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An intervention to support weight change for people with serious mental illness: a single-arm feasibility and acceptability study
IRAS ID
353231
Contact name
Charlotte Lee
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
People with serious mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, are more likely to live with obesity. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Heart disease is the main reason why people with SMI die 15-20 years earlier than people without SMI.
In the UK, some people with obesity can be referred by their general practitioner (GP) practice to a weight management programme. However, people with SMI find it hard to join or stay involved with these programmes, and the National Health Service (NHS) does not usually provide extra support to help them take part.
This study will explore whether providing additional support can help people with SMI take part in a weight management programme. GP practices will identify patients with SMI who also have obesity and diabetes and/or high blood pressure. These patients will be sent information about the study and invited to take part. Interested patients will complete a telephone call to check eligibility. Those eligible will then attend a baseline appointment to confirm eligibility and complete health and wellbeing assessments, including a weight measurement.
Participants will then be referred to the 12-week NHS Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP) and assigned a link worker. Link workers are NHS staff trained to provide practical and emotional support. Each participant will be offered a 60-minute “Meet Your Mentor” session, followed by 12 weekly 30-minute “Mentor Check-In” calls for extra support from their link worker.
Fourteen weeks after the baseline appointment, we will assess how many participants joined and stayed in the intervention and study. Participants will attend a follow-up appointment to repeat the health and wellbeing assessments. We will also speak with participants and link workers to understand whether the intervention is workable and helpful. The findings will help inform a future trial.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/PR/0312
Date of REC Opinion
30 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion