Gro Health W8Buddy
Gro Health W8Buddy is the first digital support tool developed specifically for NHS Tier 3 Weight Management Services. Led by Dr Petra Hanson, Clinical Lecturer, the app was developed by the entire specialist weight management multidisciplinary team at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, including weight management dietitians, psychologist and physicians. W8Buddy is a bespoke version of Gro Health, the highest-rated health app in the UK, and has been built by DDM Health, providers of NHS-trusted digital technologies.
The platform provides users with a personalised weight management plan supporting an individual and their family or carers to develop attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and skills to self-manage their health. It is currently being used by patients at Barts Health NHS Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire.
Key features of the platform
Structured education
A 16-module evidence-based, QISMET-certified holistic diet, physical activity, sleep and mental wellbeing programme underpinned by NICE Guidelines (PH53, QS111) and England’s CMO’s guidelines for a range of abilities, including reduced mobility.
Coaching and community
Unlimited, individualised support from trained educators* (health coaches) keeps users accountable through private and group coaching, weekly virtual meetups and check-ins. A moderated community provides peer-to-peer support.
Health and goal tracking
Track weight, activity, sleep, mood, blood glucose, medications and more with data-led feedback to support behaviour. Sync and connect with FitBit, Apple Health, Google Fit, Samsung and Withings. On signup, users choose SMART goals, which they reflect upon at regular intervals with their dedicated coach.
Food diary
Scan barcodes, search for foods or add recipes from the in-app recipes library.
Recipes and meal plans
Over 2,000 recipes, updated weekly, tailored to allergies, budget and dietary preferences.
On demand activity classes
At-home workouts including cardio, yoga and relaxation exercises tailored to fitness level.
Accessibility and inclusion
W8Buddy has been developed with an anti-discrimination, anti-stigma approach. Each user’s experience is tailored to their goal, accessibility and literacy needs, language, disease profile, ethnicity, age, gender and location.
The service is available in 10 languages with culturally-sensitive meal plans, resources and marketing developed with inclusivity and representation of the diverse populations it seeks to serve.
Gro Health is available on the web (responsive), smartphone app (iOS/Android) and smart assistants/TVs. An offline pack supports digitally excluded users.
Visually impaired users are supported with full WCAG 2.1 compliance, compatibility with all screen readers/visual app readers, larger/bolder fonts, audio-only content, editing of themes (dark mode) to reduce eye stress, voice-activated Alexa/Google app, and ability to cast/AirPlay the app to their TV. Users with hearing impairments receive subtitled/BSL-signed videos, offline learning materials and coaching with a BSL-interpreter.
Outcomes
New NIHR study to explore long-term impact of Gro Health W8Buddy
In December 2024 NIHR announced funding for seven new research projects aimed at bringing new technologies into the NHS to benefit patients. One of these projects will be led by Warwick researchers looking at the long-term impact of using Gro Health W8Buddy. The study, involving 450 patients across four hospital sites, will compare the outcomes of the digital and traditional approaches. Researchers will track key outcomes such as weight loss, quality of life, treatment speed, use of other healthcare resources, and overall health improvements over 18- and 24-month periods.
Research papers examining Gro Health W8Buddy
Peer-reviewed, published research papers evidence the impact and efficacy of the digital health platform among patients with obesity:
Implementation of a digital health tool for patients awaiting input from a specialist weight management team
All patients on the waiting list for a first appointment in the Tier 3 Weight Management service at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust were offered access to the NHS approved digital tool. Data on interest and engagement with the digital tool were collected. Routine clinical data were used to describe patient demographics. Focus groups were held to explore patients’ views on the use of digital tools as part of a specialist weight management service. 199 patients on the waiting list were informed about the available digital tool. Just over a half (51.3%; n=102) of patients were interested in using the app, with over one-third (34.2%; n=68) of all patients engaging with the app. Pending publication in JMIR.
Health outcomes following engagement with a digital health tool amongst people with type 2 diabetes
HIS are average values that reflect people’s preferences about their health state (1=full health, 0=moribund). There was a significant and clinically meaningful increase in mean HIS amongst app users between baseline (0.746 [SD 0.234]) and follow-up (0.792 [SD 0.224], P<0.001). The greatest change was observed in the mean VAS score with a percentage change of 18.3% improvement (baseline:(61.7 [SD 18.1]), follow-up:(73.0 [SD 18.8]), P<0.001). These VAS score improvements remained significant across age, gender, ethnicity, income, and diagnosis (prediabetes/T2DM). Baseline HIS, ethnicity and education variables were associated with significant changes in follow-up HIS (P<0.001). This study provides evidence of significant positive effect on self-reported quality of life amongst people living with T2DM engaging with a digital health intervention. The improvements in the five dimensions of health, as described by the EQ-5D, are facilitated through access to education and monitoring support tools within the app. Read the abstract here.
Digital Health App Within a Hospital-Based Obesity Setting Observational Service Evaluation
The digital app was a feasible remote delivery method of obesity care and as effective as traditional, face-to-face obesity management. App users lost 3.3kg vs 1.1kg weight loss for non-app users after 6 months.This research study was published in Formative JMIR. Read the full study here.
Supporting Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using a Digital Behavior Change Intervention: An Open-Label, Single-Arm, Pre-Post Intervention Study
Of the 347 study participants, 273 (78.67%) completed both the baseline and follow-up surveys. Changes in scores for anxiety, perceived stress, and depression were predicted by app engagement, with the strongest effect observed for changes in perceived stress score (F1,271=251.397; R2=0.479; P<.001). Read the study, published in JMIR Formative Research here.
Presentations and awards
Farah Abdelhameed presented the team's work in three different meetings in 2024:
- European Congress of Endocrinology 2024 - Poster presentation
- Royal College of Physicians Medicine 2024 conference - Oral presentation - finalist
- Royal College of Physicians Poster competition 2024 - Oral presentation. First place winner in the category of Clinical Cases and Digital Health.