Evidence Hub

Intensive weight loss intervention versus usual care in adults with obesity: a protocol for the LightCARE randomised clinical trial

Larsen SC, Heitmann BL, Wane S, Wielsøe S, Lindschou J, Jakobsen JC, Engstrøm J, Specht IO et al.

BMJ open, 2025

400 participants · 1 citation

Abstract

Introduction: Total diet replacements (TDRs) and weight loss medications (WLMs) have proven effective in producing substantial weight loss for individuals with obesity. Evidence is lacking on whether combining these treatments is effective and cost-effective in primary care for adults with obesity class I (body mass index (BMI) 30-34.9) or uncomplicated obesity class II or higher (BMI≥35 without obesity-related disease).

Methods and analysis: LightCARE is a 2-year 1:1 randomised, parallel-group, clinical superiority trial with blinded outcome assessment evaluating the benefits and harms of an intensive weight loss (IWL) intervention compared with usual care for adults with obesity in Denmark and the UK. The trial will include 400 participants aged 18-60 years with obesity class I or uncomplicated obesity class II or higher. The IWL programme aims to achieve and maintain a weight loss of ≥20% through a flexible and individualised combination of TDR, behavioural support, including physical activity and sleep guidance, and WLM if needed and will continue for 2 years. The control group will receive usual care offered in each country, typically consisting of brief behavioural support for weight loss. The primary outcome is body weight 2 years after randomisation. Secondary outcomes will include the proportion of participants achieving ≥20% weight loss, Short-Form-36 Mental Component Score, 4-m gait speed and Metabolic Syndrome Severity-Z score. Serious adverse events, the…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 400 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free