Introduction The global obesity epidemic and its adverse
health effects have reached sub-Saharan Africa. In some
urban settings, like Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou,
up to 43% of the adult population are overweight or
obese. At the same time, modernised food systems are
responsible for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions,
50% of land use and 70% of freshwater use. International
guidelines on the treatment of overweight and obesity
recommend dietary intervention programmes that
promote reduced calorie intake and increased physical
activity. So far, weight loss interventions rarely consider
sustainable dietary concepts, including healthfulness,
affordability, cultural appropriateness and environmental
friendliness. Therefore, we present a study protocol of a
novel randomised controlled trial that aims to establish
the effects of a sustainable weight loss intervention on
cardiometabolic and environmental outcomes in urban
Burkina Faso.
Methods and analysis We conduct a non-blinded
randomised controlled trial, comparing a 6-month
sustainable diet weight loss intervention programme
(n=125) with a standard weight loss information material
and 5 min oral counselling at baseline (n=125). Primary
outcome is a reduction in fasting plasma glucose of
≥0.1mmol/L. Outcome measures are assessed at baseline,
after 6 months and after 12 months.
Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval for the study
has been obtained from the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg
University (S-376/2019) and from the Ministry of Health
and the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research
and Innovation in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (No 2021-
01-001). The results of the study will be disseminated
to local stakeholders at a final project meeting and to
the wider research community through peer-reviewed
publications and conferences.