Randomised feasibility trial of a remotely delivered holistic UK employee programme combining tailored sleep hygiene, diet, and physical activity counselling for weight management: a mixed-methods evaluation

Du Preez, A, Marshall, D, Kelly, L, Swift, K, Evans, Z, Clinton, M, Doshi, R, Fitzhugh, C, Gardner, B, Gibson, R and Hall, WL (2026) Randomised feasibility trial of a remotely delivered holistic UK employee programme combining tailored sleep hygiene, diet, and physical activity counselling for weight management: a mixed-methods evaluation. Journal of Nutritional Science, 15. ISSN 2048-6790

Preview

Text randomised-feasibility-trial-of-a-remotely-delivered-holistic-uk-employee-programme-combining-tailored-sleep-hygiene-diet-and-physical-activity-counselling-for-weight-management-a-mixed-methods-evalua.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

Workplaces offer a key setting for health improvement interventions, given their reach and potential to promote lasting behaviour change. While diet and physical activity (PA) are common targets, sleep remains an underexplored yet influential factor in employee health. This randomised feasibility trial evaluated the practicality and acceptability of a 14-week, remotely delivered sleep-enhanced intervention (SEI) integrating sleep, PA, and diet, compared with a standard intervention (SI) focusing on PA and diet only, with exploratory assessment of behavioural and health-related outcomes. Staff from a UK higher education institution (n = 28) with short sleep duration (<7 h) and elevated cardiometabolic risk were randomised to SEI or SI. Quantitative data included self-reported and objective measures of PA, sleep, diet, and anthropometry over 14 weeks. Feasibility outcomes (recruitment, retention, compliance) and acceptability were assessed through qualitative interviews informed by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). Recruitment targets were achieved with 82% retention and 84% adherence. The SEI group showed indications of improvement in PA, dietary behaviours, anxiety symptoms, and sleep hygiene, while both groups showed reductions in BMI and waist circumference. Qualitative data highlighted the value of personalised guidance, peer support, and accountability, but also noted that the SEI’s complexity sometimes hindered adherence. The WHOLE trial demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of a remotely delivered, holistic lifestyle intervention for UK employees. A phased or extended approach may enhance sustainability and engagement in future large-scale evaluations.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Diet; Feasibility trial; Holistic; Lifestyle intervention; Physical activity; Sleep; Weight management; Humans; Exercise; Diet; Feasibility Studies; Counseling; Sleep; Adult; Middle Aged; Health Promotion; Female; Male; United Kingdom; Sleep Hygiene; Sleep Duration; Diet; Feasibility trial; Holistic; Lifestyle intervention; Physical activity; Sleep; Weight management; Humans; Female; Feasibility Studies; Exercise; United Kingdom; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Sleep Hygiene; Diet; Counseling; Health Promotion; Sleep; Sleep Duration; 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; 4206 Public Health; 42 Health Sciences; Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities; Nutrition; Clinical Research; Prevention; Sleep Research; Telehealth; Physical Activity; Behavioral and Social Science; Cardiovascular; Obesity; 3.1 Primary prevention interventions to modify behaviours or promote wellbeing; 6.6 Psychological and behavioural; Oral and gastrointestinal; Generic health relevance; Cancer; Cardiovascular; Metabolic and endocrine; Stroke; 3 Good Health and Well Being; Humans; Female; Feasibility Studies; Exercise; United Kingdom; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Sleep Hygiene; Diet; Counseling; Health Promotion; Sleep; Sleep Duration; 1111 Nutrition and Dietetics; 3210 Nutrition and dietetics; 4202 Epidemiology
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Date of acceptance:	8 April 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	13 July 2026
Date Deposited:	13 Jul 2026 12:46
Last Modified:	13 Jul 2026 12:46
DOI or ID number:	10.1017/jns.2026.10104
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28999

View Item