Enhancing Sustainable Weight Loss: An Occupational Therapy-Based Intervention for Danish Municipalities

Identified need
Obesity represents a significant public health challenge in Denmark, contributing to numerous chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and mental health disorders. The economic burden of obesity exceeds 17 billion DKK annually, including direct healthcare costs and indirect expenses like lost productivity due to illness and premature death. Current interventions are largely limited to diet and exercise, often overlooking other important factors in daily life that influence weight management. These gaps highlight the urgent need for comprehensive, sustainable interventions addressing the multifaceted nature of obesity. To address this, a holistic approach integrating occupational balance, social relationships, and personalized changes of habits and routines is essential. Occupational therapy offers a promising solution, helping individuals integrate healthier habits into their routines and promoting long-term lifestyle changes.
Design
The initiative aims to develop, test, and implement an evidence-based, scalable interdisciplinary program for weight loss and maintenance led by occupational therapists and tailored to the Danish municipal context. The program will incorporate a holistic approach by integrating in step one social support, occupational balance and habits and routines, and in step two diet and physical activity. Drawing from occupational science, which examines the impact of daily activities on health, well-being, and QoL, this intervention is designed to create sustainable behavior changes that improve both physical and mental health outcomes.
Implementation
Following the British Medical Research Council’s guidelines for intervention development and evaluation, the project will begin with expert consultations in occupational therapy, nutrition, and behavioral sciences. This will ensure an evidence-based intervention that is practical for real-world application. A detailed intervention manual will be developed and pilot-tested in Aarhus Municipality, assessing its feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness. The pilot phase will focus on key outcome measures such as weight loss, waistline, habits, occupational balance, and mental and social health indicators. Data collection will include participant feedback, which will inform adjustments to the program before broader implementation.
Results/lessons learned
Preliminary results from the pilot phase will assess the intervention’s effectiveness in promoting sustainable weight loss and improving overall well-being and QoL. The integration of occupational balance into the intervention is expected to enhance long-term adherence and success, as it supports participants in making meaningful, lasting lifestyle changes. Early findings will provide insights into how such an approach could be adapted for broader implementation across municipalities and inform future health policies, particularly for disadvantaged populations facing significant health disparities.