PROGROUP-Online – Exploring Remote Support for People Living with Severe Obesity

Severe obesity affects more than 5 million adults in the UK. Our team developed PROGROUP as a face-to-face programme, but many people struggle to attend in person. Travel costs, time pressures, and limited clinic space can make access difficult. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online healthcare has become more common, and technology could help overcome these barriers. However, we don’t yet know how acceptable or effective online treatment is for people with severe obesity. 

 What is the project doing?

We are testing whether it’s possible to deliver an online version of PROGROUP, a group-based behavioural weight management programme designed for people living with severe obesity. This feasibility study will help us understand how well online treatment works and how it can be offered as part of NHS care. 

We’re also recruiting 20 patients who don’t choose online treatment to find out more about who it is helpful for.

Creating an online version of PROGROUP could make group-based support available to many more people. This study will show us what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve online care. 

What We’re Doing 

• Adapting the Programme: We will convert our existing 5-month PROGROUP programme for online delivery. 

• Supporting Patients: We’ll create a guide to help patients join and take part in online sessions. 

• Working with the NHS: Two established NHS weight management services will help us recruit 60 patients who choose online treatment. 

• Testing Feasibility: We’ll look at how many people take up the online option, how much of the programme they attend, and what they think about it. We’ll also gather feedback from healthcare professionals delivering the sessions. 

What We Hope to Learn 

By the end of the study, we will know: 

• How practical it is to deliver PROGROUP online. 

• What patients and professionals think about the programme. 

• Who benefits most from online support. 

• How to improve the programme for future NHS use. 

This research will help expand treatment options for people living with severe obesity and improve access to care. 

External Collaborators

Dr Jenny Lloyd – University of Exeter

Header image credit to the World Obesity Federation.