Contact: Dr's Diane Crone, Lindsey Kilgour and Colin Baker
Dr's Diane Crone, Lindsey Kilgour and Colin Baker has secured a 9 month research evaluation contract from NHS Somerset to evaluate an innovative pilot project aimed at helping community groups loose weight and raise money for their local community cause. The NHS nationally have been trying a variety of innovative interventions in an attempt to address the rising levels of obesity within England and this project is an example of one of these in the South West.
The Community Pounds project adopts a community development approach and is primarily focused on communities with the highest health and social needs in Somerset and is targeted at three specific areas in Frome, (Mendip District), Yeovil, (South Somerset) and in the Taunton Deane area. It is a six month project whereby overweight/obese adults pledge to loose weight over a six month period as part of an overall community effort. Total community weight loss (i.e. number of pounds) will be rewarded with equal levels of funding (£1 for every 1lb lost) with the money to be spent on health promoting projects within their community.
The evaluation is a qualitative evaluation which aims to investigate participants motivations for taking part and their perspectives on the nature of the project in terms of successful weight loss after 6 months. Focusing on community groups and families it is a unique opportunity to understand more about motivations for successful weight loss and to further develop knowledge of interventions that could make a difference to the nations health.
The project commenced in August and is due to be completed in June 2012.