The ActWELL study
A study about lowering breast cancer risk through weight loss and lifestyle changes in women aged 50 years and older in Scotland
Background
Current evidence suggests that breast cancer risk can be decreased by about 30% through lifestyle choices.
The most important factors are managing body weight through decreasing calories from food and drink and being physically active. However, it can be difficult to make changes to everyday life and sometimes a little support is needed.
Results of the ActWELL study
Plain English Summary of ActWELL study results
We have written a summary of the ActWELL study results for study participants and BCN lifestyle coaches which you can access here: https://actwellstudy.org/actwell-study-results/
You can also download a copy of the summary here:
Watch the team present the results online in November 2020
In November 2020 all participants, coaches and other stakeholders were invited to join the ActWELL team online to hear about the results of the study. We recorded the event and here you can view it here: https://actwellstudy.org/actwell-online-event-november-2020/
Publications about the ActWELL study
Follow this link for a list of all ActWELL publications which are free to access: https://actwellstudy.org/actwell-publications/
Testimonials
What people involved in the study say
“My lifestyle coach was the most important part for me without her help and support I wouldn’t have done half as well.”
ActWELL participant (ID4)
“Truly it’s been wonderful, I can’t believe I’ve been given this opportunity….. I’m so grateful to you all…”
ActWELL participant (ID6)
“I was glad I was able to facilitate, I suppose, and to be there and to listen. Yes so I just thought that it was, I suppose, a privilege really to be there and that they were talking to me to be honest. So that’s probably the impact on me, it was more of a privilege to be able to help and to be in that position to be able to be, that they were able to feel they were able to talk to me about it.”
ActWELL BCN Lifestyle Coach (Coach D)
Videos
What people involved in the study say
What does the study team say about ActWELL?
Here four study team members speak about the ActWELL study.
What do women who took part in the ActWELL study say?
We spoke with three women about their experience of taking part in the ActWELL study.
What do Breast Cancer Now lifestyle coaches say about ActWELL?
Here five Breast Cancer Now (BCN) lifestyle coaches talk about ActWELL from their perspective.
Contact:
If you have any questions or want to know more about ActWELL, please contact the ActWELL study Chief Investigator, Professor Annie Anderson
Acknowledgements
The study team would like to acknowledge the contribution made by study participants, BCN Coaching Volunteers, local leisure centres and Breast Cancer screening staff at
Noth East Scotland Breast Screening Centre, led by Gerald Lip and championed by Amanda Moss
West Scotland Breast Screening Centre team, led by Marzi Davies and championed by Jennifer Bates
East Scotland Breast Screening Centre, led by Douglas Brown and championed by Laura Sewell
South East Scotland Breast Screening Centre, led by Janet Clarke and championed by Alyson Munroe
Study registration
The study is registered on the ISRCTN registration page for clinical trials with registration number ISRCTN11057518 (Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11057518).
The study team and funder
The study was carried out by the Universities of Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and NHS Tayside in collaboration with Breast Cancer Now. The study was funded by the Scottish Government.
actwellstudy.org 