BREAKOUT - Rehab for young adults with obesity

Term 03/2024 - 02/2028

Project management and coordination

Project staff

Bettina Kruckenberg, M. Sc. (research assistant)

Olivia Nentwig, B.Sc. (research assistant)

Project sponsor

Rehapro funding program

Model project of the German Pension Insurance Braunschweig-Hannover (DRV BS-H) (implementation at the location: Reha-Zentrum Bad Rothenfelde)

BREAKOUT is a newly designed rehabilitation program for young adults with obesity aged 18-30. In view of the constantly increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, Deutsche Rentenversicherung would like to implement a new concept in the rehabilitation landscape with a preventive approach for the young target group, which has received little attention in previous programs. In addition to sustainable weight reduction, the main aim is to maintain the ability to work, improve quality of life and reduce the risk of later comorbidities.

The basic structure of the measure is divided into two inpatient phases at the Teutoburger Wald rehabilitation Clinical Department in Bad Rothenfelde and an accompanied interim phase at home.

The content is tailored to the younger target group and, during the three-week inpatient phase, includes nutritional medicine and psychotherapeutic (group) offers as well as numerous age-specific exercise and training offers (including circuit training or aqua jumping) supplemented by experiential educational offers. The following interim phase is divided into two sections: first, a medially supervised phase by the Clinical Department and then a second unaccompanied phase in which the young adults (should) continue the program on their own. This is followed by a one-week inpatient booster, which includes the topics of lifestyle commitment, remoralization, coping strategies and overcoming implementation barriers.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Public Health Research is evaluating the planned interval rehab, which is designed as a feasibility study with a project duration from April 2024 to February 2028. In addition, the MHH team is supporting the Clinical Department and the pension insurance company in the conceptual anchoring of the project. The research design consists of a mixed-methods design (quantitative, online-based questionnaires, qualitative interviews with participants and experts). In addition to the outcomes at an individual level (e.g. changes in behavior), the focus is primarily on the sustainability and possible continuation of the project.