Empowering personalised wellness with Combe Grove

Metabolic health has gained significant attention in recent years due to a growing understanding and public awareness of its benefits. It plays a crucial role in sustaining energy levels, managing weight and promoting an overall higher quality of life. Yet with an increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome affecting approximately 20 - 25% of adults worldwide the spotlight seems all the more significant. But what does this mean for monitoring and intervention?

Thriva Solutions and Combe Grove join forces

We have recently partnered with Combe Grove, an innovative health and wellbeing centre that is paving the way for preventative wellness. Tucked away in the beautiful Somerset countryside, Combe Grove is home to the UK’s first medically measurable and sustainable Metabolic Health Retreat. In addition to providing a comprehensive health assessment, these retreats introduce a new holistic approach to wellbeing through a carefully curated programme based on The Five Roots concept. This emphasises the importance of balance - combining nutrition, physical activity, sleep, mindset and environment - in nourishing the ‘whole’. 

Central to their vision is the practice and understanding of nutritional optimisation alongside physical activity and mental rejuvenation. This is complemented by Thriva’s remote blood testing technology that is enabling retreat participants to monitor their health outcomes beyond the initial week-long residential stay across a 48 week post-retreat period. We understand that any retreat experience should be transformative; not a short-term destination but more an on-going, informed journey towards a healthier and more vibrant life.

What was the challenge? 

Combe Grove quickly acknowledged the need to augment their residential retreat packages with a remote testing capability that extended beyond the physical confines of their Somerset facility. Upon arrival on-site, retreat participants will undergo a series of tests designed to assess their overall health status; this includes body composition analysis, blood pressure checks and glucose testing and is complemented by a Thriva blood test that screens for key biomarkers associated with metabolic health.   

HbA1c testing provides a snapshot into an individual’s average blood sugar levels across a 2 - 3 month period - a leading indicator for diabetic predisposition. Whilst monitoring lipid profiles can detect the presence of insulin resistance - a key determinant of metabolic health helpful in informing intervention strategies. Beyond this initial set of tests, retreat participants will receive five additional Thriva test kits (at regular intervals across the post-retreat follow-up) to continue monitoring these key biomarkers from the comfort of their own homes. 

This prescribed cadence of testing enables each individual to create their personalised roadmap with the support of Combe Grove’s clinical team for sustained metabolic health improvement. More importantly, through the use of Thriva’s intuitive at-home kits, participants are able to receive continuous, personalised health tracking well beyond their departure, reaffirming the importance of proactive lifestyle modifications. 

What does this mean for the future of personalised wellness?

Combe Grove’s commitment to individualised health programmes is constantly evolving. Since partnering with Thriva, they have been able to support their clients in developing a pathway to change that is grounded in quantifiable, medically credible data. Not only does this improve longer-term programme engagement but it also fosters accountability, an important factor in motivation that enables individuals to witness the impact of their efforts over time.

Thriva allows us to provide meaningful metrics. It provides credibility to our approach and shows that we value medically measurable progress. Our commercial offering is constantly expanding and we feel confident that Thriva has the products and personnel to support and add value to this expansion at every step".

PRACTICE MANAGER Dr Rebecca Hiscutt, PhD, RD

Remote biomarker monitoring has enabled Combe Grove to maintain a continuum of support and guidance for their retreat participants. Combining education, enablement and data, they can now medically quantify the desired health outcomes created by positive and enduring lifestyle changes - a progressive step towards a future in which we are all empowered to make informed choices that impact our health. 

You can learn more about the Metabolic Health Retreat programme here.