Developing powerful PPIE partnerships in the design of an inclusive weight management service: a case study from the NewDAWN programme

Weight loss programmes can help people achieve remission of type 2 diabetes (T2D). People from underserved communities are less likely to participate in—and may experience poorer outcomes from—weight loss programmes than people from healthier populations already better served by healthcare systems. Unless health services including weight management programmes are based on the needs of the people most in need of them, health inequalities may get worse. Here we describe how PPIE—with a specific focus on reaching the most underserved communities—has shaped a new weight management service for T2D remission and impacted the study design, stimulating new ideas to further engagement and enhance outcomes from remission programmes more broadly. We assess our approach against the UK Standards for Public Involvement in Research and the Diabetes UK Addressing Health Inequalities in Diabetes Through Research guidance, and reflect upon achievements and areas for further development.