Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland: a longitudinal process evaluation. Use of the Public Health England guidance for a whole systems approach to obesity in three local council areas in Northern Ireland. Briefing report

Laura Lamming; Imogen Freethy; Charis Bontoft; Gavin Breslin; Abi Dennington-Price; Kevin  Eggert; Amander Wellings; Neil Howlett; Katherine E. Brown; Katie Newby

Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland: a longitudinal process evaluation. Use of the Public Health England guidance for a whole systems approach to obesity in three local council areas in Northern Ireland. Briefing report

Laura Lamming
, Imogen Freethy
, Charis Bontoft
, Gavin Breslin
, Abi Dennington-Price
, Kevin Eggert
, Amander Wellings
, Neil Howlett
, Katherine E. Brown
, Katie Newby

School of Psychology

Research output: Book/Report › Other report

Abstract

In 2022, Northern Ireland (NI) decided to implement a whole systems approach (WSA) to obesity. Evidence showed that the rates of obesity were continuing to rise despite using more traditional approaches targeting individuals, so a new tactic was needed. Partially informed by a rapid synthesis of the evidence for WSAs for obesity, the Public Health Agency (PHA) invited local councils to submit an expression of interest to become an early adopter (EA) site for a WSA to obesity prevention. Six councils applied; three were deemed ready to begin implementing the WSA in a staggered process over the next 2-3 years. These three early adopter sites are the focus of this evaluation briefing.

Original language	English
Publisher	National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Number of pages	23
Publication status	Published - 29 Apr 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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Lamming, L., Freethy, I., Bontoft, C., Breslin, G., Dennington-Price, A., Eggert, K., Wellings, A., Howlett, N., Brown, K. E., & Newby, K. (2026). Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland: a longitudinal process evaluation. Use of the Public Health England guidance for a whole systems approach to obesity in three local council areas in Northern Ireland. Briefing report. National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Lamming, Laura ; Freethy, Imogen ; Bontoft, Charis et al. / Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland: a longitudinal process evaluation. Use of the Public Health England guidance for a whole systems approach to obesity in three local council areas in Northern Ireland. Briefing report. National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), 2026. 23 p.

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title = "Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland: a longitudinal process evaluation. Use of the Public Health England guidance for a whole systems approach to obesity in three local council areas in Northern Ireland. Briefing report",

abstract = "In 2022, Northern Ireland (NI) decided to implement a whole systems approach (WSA) to obesity. Evidence showed that the rates of obesity were continuing to rise despite using more traditional approaches targeting individuals, so a new tactic was needed. Partially informed by a rapid synthesis of the evidence for WSAs for obesity, the Public Health Agency (PHA) invited local councils to submit an expression of interest to become an early adopter (EA) site for a WSA to obesity prevention. Six councils applied; three were deemed ready to begin implementing the WSA in a staggered process over the next 2-3 years. These three early adopter sites are the focus of this evaluation briefing.",

author = "Laura Lamming and Imogen Freethy and Charis Bontoft and Gavin Breslin and Abi Dennington-Price and Kevin Eggert and Amander Wellings and Neil Howlett and Brown, \{Katherine E.\} and Katie Newby",

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Lamming, L, Freethy, I, Bontoft, C, Breslin, G, Dennington-Price, A, Eggert, K, Wellings, A, Howlett, N, Brown, KE & Newby, K 2026, Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland: a longitudinal process evaluation. Use of the Public Health England guidance for a whole systems approach to obesity in three local council areas in Northern Ireland. Briefing report. National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland: a longitudinal process evaluation. Use of the Public Health England guidance for a whole systems approach to obesity in three local council areas in Northern Ireland. Briefing report. / Lamming, Laura; Freethy, Imogen; Bontoft, Charis et al.
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), 2026. 23 p.

Research output: Book/Report › Other report

TY - BOOK

T1 - Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland: a longitudinal process evaluation. Use of the Public Health England guidance for a whole systems approach to obesity in three local council areas in Northern Ireland. Briefing report

AU - Lamming, Laura

AU - Freethy, Imogen

AU - Bontoft, Charis

AU - Breslin, Gavin

AU - Dennington-Price, Abi

AU - Eggert, Kevin

AU - Wellings, Amander

AU - Howlett, Neil

AU - Brown, Katherine E.

AU - Newby, Katie

PY - 2026/4/29

Y1 - 2026/4/29

N2 - In 2022, Northern Ireland (NI) decided to implement a whole systems approach (WSA) to obesity. Evidence showed that the rates of obesity were continuing to rise despite using more traditional approaches targeting individuals, so a new tactic was needed. Partially informed by a rapid synthesis of the evidence for WSAs for obesity, the Public Health Agency (PHA) invited local councils to submit an expression of interest to become an early adopter (EA) site for a WSA to obesity prevention. Six councils applied; three were deemed ready to begin implementing the WSA in a staggered process over the next 2-3 years. These three early adopter sites are the focus of this evaluation briefing.

AB - In 2022, Northern Ireland (NI) decided to implement a whole systems approach (WSA) to obesity. Evidence showed that the rates of obesity were continuing to rise despite using more traditional approaches targeting individuals, so a new tactic was needed. Partially informed by a rapid synthesis of the evidence for WSAs for obesity, the Public Health Agency (PHA) invited local councils to submit an expression of interest to become an early adopter (EA) site for a WSA to obesity prevention. Six councils applied; three were deemed ready to begin implementing the WSA in a staggered process over the next 2-3 years. These three early adopter sites are the focus of this evaluation briefing.

M3 - Other report

BT - Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland: a longitudinal process evaluation. Use of the Public Health England guidance for a whole systems approach to obesity in three local council areas in Northern Ireland. Briefing report

PB - National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)

ER -

Lamming L, Freethy I, Bontoft C, Breslin G, Dennington-Price A, Eggert K et al. Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland: a longitudinal process evaluation. Use of the Public Health England guidance for a whole systems approach to obesity in three local council areas in Northern Ireland. Briefing report. National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), 2026. 23 p.