Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32968544›Full record

ArticlePilot and feasibility studies2020

An app-, web- and social support-based weight loss intervention for adults with obesity: the 'HelpMeDoIt!' feasibility randomised controlled trial.

Sharon Anne Simpson, Lynsay Matthews, Juliana Pugmire, Alex McConnachie, Emma McIntosh, Elinor Coulman, Kathryn Hughes, Mark Kelson, Sarah Morgan-Trimmer, Simon Murphy and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Pilot and feasibility studies, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  5. Trial
  6. Article
  7. Mobile Interventions for Reducing Sedentary Behavior and Promoting Physical Activity Among Office Workers: Bibliometric Study.Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Sharon Anne SimpsonMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Berkeley Square, 99 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6219-1768
Lynsay MatthewsMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Berkeley Square, 99 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK.
Juliana PugmireMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Berkeley Square, 99 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK.
Alex McConnachieRobertson Centre for Biostatistics, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Robertson Centre, Boyd Orr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ UK.
Emma McIntoshHealth Economics and Health Technology Assessment Unit (HEHTA), Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RZ UK.
Elinor CoulmanCentre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park Way, Cardiff, CF14 4YS UK.
Kathryn HughesDivision of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park Way, Cardiff, CF14 4YS UK.
Mark KelsonCollege of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, School of Mathematics/The Alan Turing Institute, University of Exeter, Harrison Building, Streatham Campus, North Park Road, Exeter, EX4 4QF UK.
Sarah Morgan-TrimmerInstitute of Health Research, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, College House, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU UK.
Simon MurphyCentre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer), Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT UK.
Olga Utkina-MacaskillMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Berkeley Square, 99 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK.
Laurence Anthony Russell MooreMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Berkeley Square, 99 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK.
MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit · GBCardiff University · GBUniversity of Exeter · GBThe Robertson Trust · GBUniversity of Glasgow · GB

Funding

Chief Scientist Office SPHSU11Chief Scientist Office SPHSU14Chief Scientist Office SPHSU16Chief Scientist Office SPHSU18Department of Health 12/180/20Medical Research Council MC_PC_13027Medical Research Council MC_UU_00022/1Medical Research Council MC_UU_00022/3Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/11Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/14
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSocial support has an important role in successful weight loss. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an app-, web- and social support-based intervention in supporting adults with obesity to achieve weight loss.

methodsThe intervention and evaluation methods were tested in a feasibility randomised controlled trial. Adults in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area of Scotland with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m

resultsOne hundred and nine participants were recruited, with 84 participants (77%) followed-up at 12 months. The intervention and trial methods were feasible and acceptable. Participants and helpers were generally positive. Of the 54 (74%) participants who downloaded the app, 48 (89%) used it. Interview data indicated that HelpMeDoIt! promoted social support from existing social networks to support weight loss. This support was often given outside of the app.Outcomes were compared using linear regression models, with randomised group, the baseline measurement of the outcome, age and gender as predictor variables. These analyses were exploratory and underpowered to detect effects. However, all pre-specified primary outcome effects (BMI, diet and physical activity) had wide confidence intervals and were therefore consistent with clinically relevant benefits. Objective physical activity measures perhaps showed most potential (daily step count (

conclusionsThe study demonstrated that a novel social support intervention involving support from participants' close social networks, delivered via app and website, has potential to promote weight loss and is feasible and acceptable.

trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN85615983. Registered 25 September 2014.

Indexed as

DietDigital healthGoal setting, Self-monitoring, Physical activityObesitySocial networkSocial supportWeight loss

Identifiers

PMID32968544
PMCPMC7501712
OpenAlexW3087709775

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.