Table 1

Delivery and content of counsellor visits (contacts 1–3)

	Visit 1	Visit 2	Visit 3
Contact	Face-to-face	Face-to-face	Face-to-face
Time line	Following baseline assessment	Week 6–8	3 months
Duration	90 min	45 min	45 min
Who delivers	Trained counsellor	Trained counsellor	Trained counsellor
Intervention location	Home/research centre	Home/research centre	Home/research centre
Social support	Invited friend/partner/family member	Invited friend/partner/family member	Invited friend/partner/family member
Introduction	Check nurse assessment Importance of lifestyle change Consultant endorsement Identify 12-month weight loss target	Current well-being Experience of making change Importance of modest change Building towards 12-month weight loss target	Current well-being Experience of making change Importance of modest change Building towards 12-month weight loss target
Motivational approaches	24-h dietary recall/activity assessment Identify perceived diet/activity challenges Identify self-assessed motivations, confidence, ambivalence and personal value regarding weight change	Identify self-monitored weight Provide feedback Provide encouragement Identify self-assessed motivations, confidence, ambivalence and personal values rechange	Identify self-monitored weight Provide feedback Provide encouragement Identify confidence and support needs
Education—general	Healthy eating and activity principles Portion size Energy-dense food and drinks Breakfast meals and snacks Activity and inactivity Demonstration of brisk walking + pedometer	Discuss experience of changing diet and activity referring back to perceived challenges at visit 1. Check for queries or areas of confusion or elaboration Discuss walking + pedometer	Discuss experience of changing diet and activity referring back to perceived challenges at visits 1 and 2 Check for queries or areas of confusion or elaboration Discuss walking + pedometer
Education—personalised	Structured weight loss programme − 600 kcal diet prescription plan	Discuss progress towards achieving − 600 kcal diet	Discuss progress towards achieving − 600 kcal diet
Behavioural and re-enforcement techniques DIET OR ACTIVITY	Introduce diet or activity focus 1	Discuss self-monitoring of focus 1 Provide positive feedback Identify challenges Discuss maintenance Introduce diet or activity focus 2	Discuss self-monitoring of focus 2 Provide positive feedback Identify challenges Discuss maintenance of foci 1 and 2 Negotiate key long-term diet and activity goals based on: Perceived achievements Summarise success
Behavioural and re-enforcement techniques WT MANAGEMENT	Provide body weight scales Explanation of self-monitoring procedures Remind about 12-month goal	Re-enforce body weight techniques	Check body weight scales and the need for continued monitoring
Professional support	Provide tel and email contact details Identify next two appointments	Confirm next appointment and identify date for call 1	Confirm call 1 and identify date for call 2