title: The cost-effectiveness of weight management programmes in a postnatal population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of a weight management programme including elements of physical exercise and dietary restriction which are designed to help women lose excess weight gained during pregnancy in the vulnerable postnatal period and inhibit the development of behaviours which could lead to future excess weight gain and obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mathematical model based on a regression equation predicting change in weight over a fifteen year postnatal period was developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The model included programme effectiveness and resource data based on a randomized controlled trial of a weight management programme implemented in a postnatal population in the United States. Utility and mortality data based on body mass index categories were also included. The model adopted a National Health Service (NHS) and personal social services (PSS) perspective, a lifetime time horizon and estimated the cost effectiveness of a weight management programme against a no change comparator in terms of an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline results show that the difference in weight between women who received the weight management programme and women who received the control intervention was 3.02 kg at six months and 3.53 kg at fifteen years following childbirth. This results in an ICER of £7355 per quality adjusted life year (QALY) for women who were married at childbirth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The estimated ICER would suggest that such a weight management programme is cost-effective at a NICE threshold of £20,000 per QALY. However significant structural and evidence based uncertainty is present in the analysis.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: andrew.r.1704@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rawdin
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, United Kingdom; IESEG School of Management, LEM-CNRS, HEMO, Socle de la Grande Arche 1, Parvis de la Defense, Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duenas
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chilcott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011181:Postnatal Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D014481:United States; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000191:economics*
keywords: Childbirth; Cost effectiveness; Health economics; Mathematical modelling; Public health; Weight management following pregnancy