Game of Stones

Recruitment for the Game of Stones across the three UK countries was completed in May 2022

IN BELFAST, the study was supported by Queen's University Belfast and the Public Health Agency.

Game of Stones logo

WHAT IS THE GAME OF STONES TRIAL?

People with obesity are at greater risk of type two diabetes, some cancers, heart disease, stroke, infections like COVID-19 and mobility problems. However, men rarely take part in weight loss services. Together with men who have tried to lose weight, a new weight loss service was designed.

GAME OF STONES AIMS to find out if text messages (with and without cash incentives) can help men to lose weight over 1 year and keep it off for another year compared to a waiting list group.

KEY QUESTIONS THIS STUDY WILL ANSWER: Do men lose weight and keep it off? What are the costs and benefits for men and the NHS? Does the service help men who are less well-off as well as the more well-off? What are men’s experiences?

RESEARCHERS IN GLASGOW, BELFAST AND BRISTOL recruited 585 men from varied backgrounds. GP practices sent invitation letters and researchers recruited men at community venues. Men were allocated by chance to one of three groups: texts with incentives; texts only; and a 12-month waiting list for texts. The full cash incentive was only paid at 12 months if all personal weight loss targets were met when men were weighed at 3, 6, and 12 months. Some money was lost for each target weight that was not met. Weight loss after 12 months was the main outcome hoped for and men were asked questions about their health, quality of life, well-being and experiences. Men were also weighed 1 year later (24 months after the start).

Keep up to date with the progress through the Game of Stones website and newsletters:

View the protocol for Game of Stones.

THE FINDINGS were shared with the public, men’s health groups and health service staff through social media, blogs, reports, presentations and research papers. The GoS Policy Briefing Paper will provide more information.

THE FEASIBILITY TRIAL RESULTS are now published

Dombrowski, S.U., et al., Game of Stones: feasibility randomised controlled trial of how to engage men with obesity in text message and incentive interventions for weight loss.

Dombrowski, S.U., McDonald M, van der Pol M, Grindle M, Avenell A, Carroll P, et al., Text messaging and financial incentives to encourage weight loss in men with obesity: the Game of Stones feasibility RCT.

McDonald, M.D., et al., Recruiting men from across the socioeconomic spectrum via GP registers and community outreach to a weight management feasibility randomised controlled trial.

van der Pol, M., McDonald, M., Collacott, H. et al. Designing financial incentives for health behaviour change: a mixed-methods case study of weight loss in men with obesity.

Many thanks to the 105 men who participated and everyone who helped us! In the Game of Stones trial, the text messages have been refined with men, for men and are new. They share tips to help men find a plan that works for them and stick to it. There’s no magic bullet, but there is a new website with information and self-monitoring features. Apart from the text messages – there are not many changes from our feasibility study.

WHO IS FUNDING GAME OF STONES?
The Game of Stones Trial was funded by NIHR Public Health Research [REF 129703] and was approved by the North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee (2) [IRAS REF 290955].

THE TRIAL INVESTIGATORS

Prof. Pat Hoddinott (Chief Investigator)
University of Stirling

Dr Stephan Dombrowski
University of Stirling

Prof Marjon van der Pol
University of Aberdeen

Prof Alison Avenell
University of Aberdeen

Prof Frank Kee
Queens University, Belfast

Prof Michelle McKinley
Queens University, Belfast

Prof Katrina Turner
University of Bristol

Mr Andrew Elders
Glasgow Caledonian University

Prof Graeme Maclennan
University of Aberdeen

Prof Kate Hunt
University of Stirling

Prof Cindy Gray
University of Glasgow

Associate Prof Fiona Harris
University of Stirling

Martin Tod and Jim Pollard
Men’s Health Forum GB https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/

Colin Fowler and Paula Carroll
Men’s Health Forum all Ireland https://www.mhfi.org/

THE TRIAL MANAGERS were Catriona O’Dolan and Lisa Macaulay, supported by Research Fellow Claire Torrens

IN GLASGOW, the study was supported by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Glasgow and University of Stirling

IN BRISTOL, the study was supported by University of Bristol and NHS England

BEHIND THE SCENES SUPPORT:

THE CENTRE FOR HEALTHCARE RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIALS (CHaRT) at University of Aberdeen - Mark Forrest, Beatriz Goulao and Seonaidh Cotton
THE HEALTH INFORMATICS CENTRE at the University of Dundee (Claire Jones and Keith Milburn)

GAME OF STONES COLLABORATORS INCLUDE:

Matthew McDonald and Rebecca Skinner, research fieldworkers on the 2017 Game of Stones feasibility trial, who are both doing PhDs in weight management for men
Prof George Crooks CEO of The Digital Health Institute at the University of Strathclyde;
Dr Karen Allan, Academic Team Lead for Dietetics at Robert Gordon University,
Dr David Blane, University of Glasgow

THE INDEPENDENT TRIAL STEERING GROUP PROVIDES OVERSIGHT ON BEHALF OF NIHR:

Prof Edmund Juszczak (Chair)
Prof of Clinical Trials and Statistics in Medicine
University of Nottingham

Prof Kate Jolly
Professor of Public Health & Primary Care
University of Birmingham

Prof Emma Frew
Professor in Health Economics
University of Birmingham

Mr David Gardner (PPI member)
Chairman of Scottish Men's Sheds and Chair of N Ayrshire Patient Participation Group
Scottish Men's Sheds

Mr Graham Jameson (PPI member)
Administration Officer, Registers of Scotland