eCHANGE©™

2017-2026

Funding

Oslo University Hospital and Vestfold Hospital.

Summary

Obesity is a substantial public health problem worldwide, and Norway is no exception. Obesity rates are rapidly increasing, and even with diets and interventions aiding weight loss, an alarmingly large percentage of people struggle to maintain the new weight after weight loss long term. Despite the availability of numerous diets, health- and fitness-focused interventions for weight loss, few of these are made available based on user-centered, evidence-based, rigorous research, and few so far focus on weight maintenance after weight loss.

The goal of this project was therefore to design and develop a person-centered, evidence-informed digital health intervention aiming to support weight maintenance following weight loss. The intervention was developed based on evidence (i.e., including nutritional information, behavior change theories and methods, and incorporation of established recommended coping strategies) as well as continuous input related to user needs, experiences and wishes.

The study has three main objectives:

1. Explorations of user-centered, evidence-informed recommendations and needs in support of weight maintenance after weight loss
2. Design and development of a digital health intervention in support of weight maintenance after weight loss (eCHANGE)
3. Multi-center feasibility pilot testing of the eCHANGE intervention

The project has used a person-centered approach through service design and participatory design, and the eCHANGE intervention was developed through an iterative process in close collaboration between scientists, patient representatives (i.e., users), health care providers, and other relevant stakeholders. Options for funding of further testing through a mulita-center randomized controlled trial are being explored. Given findings so far, eCHANGE has the potential to contribute to better health and quality of life for people with obesity through weight maintenance after weight loss.

Collaborators

• Jøran Hjelmesæth, MD, PhD, Center Director and professor, Morbid Obesity Centre, Vestfold Hospital Trust / Department of Medicine, University of Oslo
• Serena Tonstad, MD, MPH, PhD, Chief physician, Professor, Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity & Preventive Medicine, Oslo University Hospital
• Jens Kristoffer Hertel, PhD, Head of research, Morbid Obesity Centre, Vestfold Hospital Trust
• Line Kristin Johnson, PhD, Nutritionist, Morbid Obesity Centre, Vestfold Hospital Trust
• Mette Svendsen, PhD, Nutritionist, Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity & Preventive Medicine, Oslo University Hospital
• Eirik Abildsnes, MD, PhD, Family Medicine / Public Health, Kristiansand Municipality
• Unni Mette Stamnes Köpp, MD, PhD, Chief Physician, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sorlandet Hospital Trust
• Frode Gallefoss, MD, PhD, Head of Research, Hospital Clinical Research Unit, Sorlandet Hospital Trust
• Mirjam Smedsrød, MA, Director, Regional Patient Education Resource Center, Sorlandet Hospital Trust
• Mari-Mette Graff, Manager, Norwegian Association for people with Obesity
• Matthew M. Clark, LP, ABPP, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry & Psychology / Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic
• Lisette van Gemert-Pijnen, PhD, Founding Director, Center for eHealth & Wellbeing Research, University of Twente
• Saskia M. Kelders, PhD, Assistant Professor, Center for eHealth & Wellbeing Research, University of Twente
• Mirjam Ekstedt, PhD, Professor, System Safety in Health Care Group, Medical Management Centre, Karolinska Institutet
• Tonje Holte Stea, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Agder
• Una Stenberg, PhD, Senior researcher, Learning & Mastery Health, Norwegian National Advisory Unit
• Milada Cvancarova Småstuen, PhD, Associate professor, Oslo Metropolitan University