• Richard Kyle, Stephen Jones, and Sandra Roycroft-Davis.
• School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University.
• Br J Gen Pract. 2020 Jun 1; 70 (suppl 1).

BackgroundObesity is a global pandemic that threatens the health of the population and the sustainability of publicly funded health care. This randomised controlled trial addresses the gap in the literature surrounding unconscious persuasion and its use in weight loss and weight management. The Slimpod® tool is unlike any of those currently available on the market. Using breakthrough research in 'nudge' thinking, it is designed to retrain an adult's habitual and emotional response to foodstuffs. This therapeutic model allows unconscious thought to be shaped into a manner more consistent with a healthy lifestyle. Candidates can then take control of their eating behaviours to induce a holistic state of wellbeing.AimTo assess the effectiveness of an audio unconscious-persuasion weight loss/weight management intervention (Slimpod®) compared with audio relaxation (control).MethodEighty-two overweight adults were randomised to intervention (n = 41) and control groups (n = 41). Weight was assessed at trial commencement, mid-trial (12 weeks), and trial end (24 weeks). Secondary outcomes were assessed using the Eating Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES), Exercise Confidence Scale (ECS), and Quality of Life Index Generic Version III (QLI-G3) at the start and end of the trial.ResultsReports found a statistically significant difference in mean weight loss between intervention group (1.7 kg at 12 weeks and 4.3 kg at 24 weeks) versus control (0.6 kg and 1.2 kg respectively) at P<0.001. ESES scores showed greater self-efficacy (P = 0.008) in intervention at 24 weeks. No significant differences in ESES negative affect sub-scale score or ECS were observed.ConclusionSlimpod® was effective at reducing weight and increasing eating self-efficacy in overweight adults.© British Journal of General Practice 2020.

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