Massey University research concludes that From the Couch’s supportive, non-judgemental, peer-based programme motivates a significant number of people struggling with obesity to turn their lives around.
The free 12-week From the Couch (FTC) programme resulted from a partnership between BBM Motivation (aka Brown Buttabean Motivation), Total Healthcare PHO and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. It is supported by Local Doctors with GP clinic services.
The researchers praise the “powerful combination” of joining the community connections (in person and through social media) of BBM Motivation with the medical and professional resources of Total Healthcare.
“This combination enables long-term connectedness for people living with obesity and seeking positive lifestyle change. Long-term lifestyle change is the holy grail of weight loss programmes; this research suggests that FTC can be effective towards this end.”
The university’s final three-year evaluation of the programme was released on 23 January 2025 with special tributes paid to research supervisor Professor James Liu who tragically died while overseas for an international psychology conference.
Research was undertaken by Jennifer Sarich, Gloria Finau, Evan Valdes, the late Professor James Liu, Alosina Nua and Darrin Hodgetts from Massey University’s School of Psychology – Te Kura Hinengaro Tangata. Data collection support was provided by Tāmaki Health data analyst Rodney Burger.
Speaking at the launch, Jennifer said the research showed improved health results for FTC participants were “substantive and robust”.
“Additionally, James stated that he had never seen such results in his professional career, namely, where initially 65% of participants reported severe depressive symptoms, but this rate fell to just 20% by the programme’s end.
“These numbers were supported by many testimonials where people told us that BBM was more than a gym. It was culturally responsive, where people felt accepted for who they were; that is arguably the ultimate human quest – to belong. And when you feel safe and accepted, you are able to reach for your goals.”
Effective community-based intervention for Māori and Pacific Peoples
The three-year evaluation of FTC includes a comprehensive literature review detailing the ways in which social, political and economic structures have been detrimental to wellbeing, particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples.
It details how mainstream responses to the obesity problem are largely failing to address the needs of communities, Jennifer said.
The Massey FTC study documents how this effective community-based intervention primarily for Māori and Pacific Peoples, living in less-affluent neighbourhoods in Auckland, “motivates and guides a significant number of people through weight loss, exercise, dietary and psychological improvements”.
“We recommend the programme funding should be scaled up to support higher numbers of clientele,” Jennifer added.
She noted a 2020 ImpactLab report revealed that every dollar invested in FTC, alongside other bootcamps BBM Motivation offers, delivered $13.50 in measurable social good to Aotearoa. Jennifer said she was sure that return would be even higher now given the rapid growth of the programme in a short period.
Making healthcare and health improvements accessible
The research includes interviews with 11 FTC participants who researchers contacted and checked in with about six months to a year after leaving the programme.
Concerns about the links between obesity and mortality, regular hospital visits and fears of leaving their families behind motivated many to initiate their health changes, Jennifer said.
“These stories had an intimacy to our ancestor, Hine-nui-te-pō… our atua who left the world of light for the dark world. Some refer to her as the atua of death. One participant shared with us: ‘My why was that I didn’t want my sisters to have to carry me at a heavy weight, that to be carried in a coffin by my sisters, the weight of me… I didn’t think it was fair on them’.”
Jennifer said the stories shared were not just about death, they were also about living.
“FTC gave them life and with this life came a rebirthing of self. Time and time again, people told us they just want to give back to the world what this programme has given to them. I personally could not think of a better world to live in than one where we all function this way.”
Additionally, participants spoke fondly of the integrated healthcare services provided by Total Healthcare and how accessible healthcare became for them. “This was different to any other lifestyle change programme and all participants spoke positively about having physical measurements taken to monitor their health and to predict and prevent further illness.”
Participants took FTC’s ‘no excuses’ mindset into other parts of their life, Jennifer said. “Including one strong woman who used it on her cancer journey and another woman who no longer attends classes but has ‘no excuses’ signs posted up around her house and she looks to them when she is struggling.
“We realised that the programme provided wrap-around support to encourage more independent lifestyles, which in essence is tino rangatiratanga or self-determination.
“People told us they now do their own workouts with whānau, or some started swimming for the first time in years.”
