Effectiveness of FitterLife: A Community-Based Virtual Weight Management Programme for Overweight Adults

Background: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Singapore necessitates scalable primary prevention strategies. This study evaluated the short-term effectiveness of FitterLife, a 12-week, digitally delivered, group-based behavioural weight management programme targeting at-risk adults without diabetes or hypertension in the community. Methods: In a retrospective matched cohort study, we compared 306 FitterLife participants (enrolled from October 2021 to January 2025) with 5,087 controls identified from a population health data mart, matched on age, sex, ethnicity, and baseline body mass index (BMI). The primary outcome was achieving ≥5% weight loss or a ≥1 kg/m² BMI reduction at 12 weeks. Programme effectiveness was analysed using propensity score matching (1:1) and inverse probability weighted regression. Mixed-effects models assessed weight/BMI trajectories and modified Poisson regression identified behavioural factors associated with success. Results: After matching, FitterLife participants were more likely to achieve the weight loss target than controls (45.7% vs 13.7%, coefficient=0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26-0.38) and were over three times as likely to succeed (Adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]=3.37, 95% CI: 2.87-3.93). The programme group showed significant reductions in weight (-2.23 kg, 95% CI: -2.57 to -1.90) and BMI (-0.86 kg/m2, 95% CI: -0.95 to -0.73) at the end of programme. Higher session attendance and improved behavioural factors were associated with success. Conclusions: FitterLife was effective in achieving clinically significant short-term weight loss in a real-world setting. The findings demonstrate the potential of a scalable, behavioural theory-informed, virtual group model as a viable primary prevention strategy within national chronic disease management efforts.