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

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Obesity Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Rising overweight and obesity prevalence in Singapore necessitates effective weight management interventions.
• Asian populations may experience health complications at lower body mass index (BMI) thresholds.
• The Health Promotion Board developed the national 'Lose To Win' (LTW) program to address these concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the evolution and assess the effectiveness of the national 'Lose To Win' (LTW) weight management program from 2009 to 2013.
• To evaluate short-term weight loss outcomes and identify factors influencing participation and success.

Main Methods:

• The LTW program is a 12-week intervention including nutrition education, physical activity, and mental wellbeing sessions.
• Participants aged 18-69 years with a BMI of 23–37.4 kg/m² were included.
• Effectiveness was assessed via changes in weight and BMI, with a non-randomized control group used in 2010 and 2012.

Main Results:

• Participant numbers grew from 285 in 2009 to 1412 in 2013, with program completion rates varying between 49% and 88%.
• Average weight loss ranged from 1.3 to 3.6 kg, with significantly greater loss in the intervention group compared to the control group.
• Competition and incentives were identified as key motivators for participation.

Conclusions:

• The LTW program demonstrated effectiveness in achieving short-term weight loss among participants.
• Enhancements are planned to improve participation, follow-up rates, and long-term sustainability.
• The program's design and motivational elements contributed to its positive reception and results.