Protocol of Taste and See: A Feasibility Study of a Church-Based, Healthy, Intuitive Eating Programme

Abstract

Obesity treatment remains a high global priority. Evidence suggests holistic approaches, which include a religious element, are promising. Most research is from the USA, but recent evidence suggests a need within the UK population. The aim of this study is to explore the feasibility of running and evaluating a Christian-based, healthy, intuitive-eating programme, in a UK church. This is the protocol of a mixed-methods single-group feasibility study of a ten-week programme. The programme focuses on breaking the "diet and weight regain" cycle using principles from intuitive eating uniquely combined with biblical principles of love, freedom, responsibility, forgiveness, and spiritual need. We will recruit at least ten adult participants who are obese, overweight, or of a healthy weight with problematic eating behaviours. Participants can be from any faith or none. Robust measures of physical, psychological and spiritual outcomes will be used. Results are not yet available. Findings will be used to design a cluster-randomised controlled trial to test efficacy through many churches. If weight reduces by a small amount, there will be substantial benefits to public health. With a strong association between obesity and mental-ill health, a holistic intervention is particularly important. Using churches addresses religious and spiritual health, and uses existing social structures and a voluntary workforce that are sustainable and cost-effective.

Protocol for a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial to Compare the “Taste & See” Programme—A Church-Based Programme to Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food—With a Wait-List Control

“…"Taste & See" is an intervention that views obesity as a chronic, relapsing, remitting condition, and aims to reduce the harms associated with it; rather seeking weight loss at all costs. The design of the "Taste & See" programme and the protocol for testing the feasibility of this was previously reported in Religions (Lycett et al 2016). The results of the feasibility study, also previously reported in Religions, showed this programme could be run successfully by church volunteers and improvements in participants' mental well-being, emotional eating and quality-of-life were observed during and for six months after the programme (Patel et al 2017a).…”

“…The intervention consists of 10 weekly sessions which takes the participants on a journey from identifying problematic eating behaviours to begin making changes. The programme incorporates 25 behavior change technique (Michie et al 2013) and is described more fully in the feasibility study protocol (Lycett et al 2016). The programme resources have now been developed into a 'off the shelf' prototype package which is sent to churches to be delivered locally by the programme facilitators.…”

Special Issue “International Conference of Spirituality in Healthcare. Sowing the Seeds”—Trinity College Dublin 2015

“…This community-based programme may be more responsive than more traditional medical approaches, and several reliable measures are proposed that will likely produce interesting results. The authors [33] hypothesize positive results with their intervention. The subject of prayer is also addressed by Simão et al [34].…”

“…Lycett et al [33] describe a planned methodology for a ten-week "church based, health, intuitive eating programme" aimed at assisting weight loss. They provide convincing evidence of the need for this type of study and demonstrate how local churches may become active in health promotion.…”

A Feasibility Study of Taste & See: A Church Based Programme to Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food

“…None of the lay facilitators had a healthcare background and their experience in dealing with people who had significant weight and food issues was limited. The lay facilitators were taught about programme content, the importance of listening and supporting participants' own behaviour change solutions rather than providing advice, and when to signpost individuals to healthcare professionals (further details on training provided is in the protocol paper) [15]. The study dietitian/principal investigator (DL), supported by RP demonstrated initial sessions and facilitators took on more responsibility for delivery as the programme progressed.…”