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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Leah Avery, Professor Stuart McPhersonORCiD, Dr Kate HallsworthORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Objective: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide. Weight loss, achieved by changes to lifestyle behaviours, is the recommended management approach. However, patients find this challenging. A MASLD-specific digital behavioural intervention (interVention to promote lIfesTyle change in metabolic dysfunction-Associated steatotic LIver diseaSE, VITALISE) to target changes in dietary and physical activity behaviours was developed to support weight loss. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of delivering VITALISE in routine secondary care. Methods A single-centre, one-arm feasibility study recruited participants from November 2022 to May 2023. VITALISE included MASLD-specific education, provision of self-regulation tools (ie, goal setting, food monitoring, step tracking, weight monitoring) and monthly health coaching appointments by telephone. Patients had access to VITALISE for 6 months. Primary outcomes were feasibility (recruitment, uptake, engagement, adherence, and followup rates) and acceptability (patient views). Secondary outcomes were body weight, liver enzymes, liver stiffness, blood pressure, lipid profile, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), physical activity and patient activation. Results 35 patients (mean age 54 years; 69% male) with MASLD were recruited to VITALISE (recruitment rate 59%). Of the 35 enrolled, 83% activated their VITALISE account. Patient interviews supported acceptability. At 6 months, mean weight loss was 4.0 kg (3.5%) and alanine transaminase reduced by 27%. A decrease in daily sedentary time and an increase in light physical activity were observed. Self-reported leisure-time physical activity and patient activation increased from baseline to 6-month follow-up. Conclusions VITALISE was feasible and acceptable to deliver in routine secondary care. Weight loss and improvements in lifestyle behaviours and liver enzymes were observed. Findings will inform intervention optimisation and future large-scale evaluation.
Author(s): Avery L, Smith H, Livingston R, McPherson S, Innerd A, Hallsworth K
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: BMJ Open Gastroenterology
Year: 2025
Volume: 12
Online publication date: 30/06/2025
Acceptance date: 02/06/2025
Date deposited: 21/07/2025
ISSN (electronic): 2054-4774
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgast-2025-001771
DOI: 10.1136/bmjgast-2025-001771
Data Access Statement: Data are available on reasonable request. The data generated will be stored in a non-publicly available repository. Anonymised IPD will be available on reasonable request. Aggregated data will be reported in accordance with the publication and dissemination plan outlined.
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