This program is for adults living in the United Kingdom who are overweight or obese.

Counterweight®, a community-based weight-loss program, is designed to provide participants with tools to change their eating habits, physical-activity levels, and health behaviors.

Several pre/post-design research studies have been published. Of the adults who participated in this program for at least 12 months, approximately 30% to 40% lost 5% or more of their starting body weight. Lack of comparison to a control group limits the final conclusions that can be drawn about the effectiveness of this program.

Healthcare practitioners who are trained in the Counterweight program meet with clients in groups or individually to help participants make long-term changes to their eating and physical activity habits.

Counterweight provides services to address the following:

• Fertility – receive a personalized weight loss plan; use nutritionally balanced meal replacements; access evidence-based articles and information; engage in 1-to-1 consultations with an expert fertility dietitian; track progress, log measurements, set goals, and chat with a personal dietitian using the program’s app; and obtain personalized advice on foods and supplements to support fertility.
• Weight loss – receive a personalized weight-loss program; use nutritionally balanced meal replacements; engage in 1-to-1 consultations with a dietitian via video meeting, chat, or phone call; prepare Counterweight recipes; access evidence-based articles and information; and track progress, log measurements, set goals, and chat to a personal dietitian in the program’s app.

Participants may choose from three different weight-loss approaches:

• Total diet replacement (Counterweight Plus*) – participants receive four meal replacements (e.g., soups, shakes) per day;
• Meal replacement (Counterweight Lite) – participants eat two meal replacements plus a calorie-controlled meal and a healthy snack per day; and
• Food-based (Counterweight food-based) – participants learn to make sustainable changes to eating and exercise habits to lose weight.

*A separate fact sheet is available for this program.

Counterweight was founded in 2000; however, the extent to which the program has been implemented is unclear.

This program is facilitated by Counterweight dietitians. Information on training was not located. Please use details in the Contact section to learn more.

Considerations for implementing this program include understanding this program is currently only available in the United Kingdom, acquiring buy-in and commitment from participants, and ensuring participants have access to the program’s mobile app.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing Counterweight, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Fertility services are generally provided during prenatal, pregnancy, and post-natal periods and can last as long as needed. Weight-loss services are provided for 1 year.

Information on implementation costs was not located.

To move Counterweight to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact Counterweight by phone 020 3026 8800 or visit https://www.counterweight.org/pages/get-in-touch

https://www.counterweight.org/