9 The evidence

The evidence statements from 2 reviews are provided by external contractors.

This section lists how the evidence statements and expert papers link to the recommendations and sets out a brief summary of findings from the economic analysis.

Economic modelling

Overall, the modelling showed that lifestyle weight management interventions that help people lose weight and then maintain the weight loss in the long term would be cost effective, if they can be identified.

The economic model considered cohorts of (virtual) adults of different ages and with a body mass index (BMI) of 25, 30, 35 and 40 kg/m2. The model tested the effect of a 12-week lifestyle weight management programme. All cohorts were followed for the whole of their lives and they contract diseases and conditions at different rates, depending on their BMI.

From a public sector perspective, the modelling showed that if the original weight loss achieved by attending a lifestyle weight management programme were to be maintained for life, most of these interventions would be cost effective. That is, provided they cost less than £500 per person and on average, participants lost more than 1 kg in weight. This is true for all age groups and both sexes.

However, if they were to regain the lost weight within 2 to 3 years, the modelling indicates that few, if any, of these interventions would be cost effective. To be cost effective, they would need to cost less than £100 per person and the average weight lost would need to be in excess of 5 kg.

More detail (including any observed differences by age and gender) is given in the modelling report: Managing overweight and obesity among adults: report on economic modelling and cost consequence analysis.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)