Lessons from Singapore’s national weight management program, Lose To Win

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Singapore is lower than in most countries, but it is increasing. There is evidence health complications may appear at lower weights among Asians. We describe the evolution of a national weight management program [Lose To Win (LTW)] organized by the Singapore Health Promotion Board from 2009 to 2013. LTW is a 12-week program comprising nutrition education, physical activity and mental wellbeing sessions and interim assessments. Individuals aged 18-69 years with a body mass index (BMI) between 23 and 37.4 kg/m2 were included. Primary outcomes were change in weight and BMI from baseline to end of 12-weeks. Effectiveness of the weight loss program was assessed using non-randomized control group (delayed intervention) during LTW 2010 and 2012. LTW 2009 enrolled 285 participants from 72 worksites. LTW 2010, expanded to the community, enrolling 952 participants (641 community-based and 311 workplace-based). In LTW 2012 and 2013, 959 and 1412 participants, respectively, were recruited from the community only. Completion rates of the 12-week program varied from 49 to 88%. Average weight loss ranged from 1.3 to 3.6 kg. For rounds including a control group, weight loss was higher in the intervention than in the control group. Competition and incentives were important motivators for participation. The LTW program was well-received and effective in producing short-term weight loss. Enhancements will be done to reinforce success factors in subsequent rounds to boost participation and follow-up rates and to ensure long-term sustainability.

Business · Obesity · Political science · Weight loss · Weight management · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Physical Activity and Health

• From individual behaviour strategies to sustainable food systems

  Open Access•Radilaite Cammock, Daysha Tonumaipe’a et al.•Health Policy•2021

  Añadir item

• Global, regional, and national burdens of chronic kidney disease attributable to high body mass index from 1990 to 2021, with future forecasts up to 2050

  Open Access•Jun Ying, Xiaolei Lan et al.•Frontiers in Public Health•2025

  Añadir item

• National, regional, and global trends in adult overweight and obesity prevalences

  Open Access•G A Stevens, Gitanjali M Singh et al.•Population Health Metrics•2012

  Añadir item

• Financial Incentive–Based Approaches for Weight Loss

  Kevin G Volpp, Leslie K John et al.•JAMA•2008

  Añadir item

• Self-Monitoring in Weight Loss

  Open Access•Lora E Burke, Jing Wang et al.•Journal of the American Dietetic…•2011

  Añadir item

• Selected major risk factors and global and regional burden of disease

  Open Access•Majid Ezzati, Alan D Lopez et al.•The Lancet•2002

  Añadir item

• Body-mass index and cause-specific mortality in 900 000 adults

  Open Access•Prospective Studies Collaboration Prospective Studies Collaboration,…•The Lancet•2009

  Añadir item

• Self-determination theory

  Edward L Deci, Richard M Ryan•Canadian Psychology/Psychologie…•2008

  Añadir item

• The built environment and collective efficacy

  Open Access•Deborah A Cohen, Sanae Inagami et al.•Health & Place•2007

  Añadir item

• Weight loss competitions at the work site

  Kelly D Brownell, Rita Yopp Cohen et al.•American Journal of Public Health•1984

  Añadir item

• Improving Weight Loss Outcomes of Community Interventions by Incorporating Behavioral Strategies

  Rena R Wing, Melissa M Crane et al.•American Journal of Public Health•2010

  Añadir item

• Collective efficacy and obesity

  Open Access•Deborah A Cohen, Brian Karl Finch et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2006

  Añadir item