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Role of social support in lifestyle-focused weight management interventions

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages S179–S186 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Social support is important to achieve beneficial changes in risk factors for disease, such as overweight and obesity. This paper presents the theoretical and practical framework for social support, and the mechanisms by which social support affects body weight. The theoretical and practical framework is supported with a literature review addressing studies involving a social support intervention for weight loss and weight loss maintenance.

A major aspect in social support research and practice is the distinction between structural and functional support. Structural support refers to the availability of potential support-givers, while functional support refers to the perception of support. Interventions often affect structural support, for example, through peer groups, yet functional support shows a stronger correlation with health. Although positive correlations between social support and health have been shown, social support may also counteract health behaviour change.

Most interventions discussed in this review showed positive health outcomes. Surprisingly, social support was clearly defined on a practical level in hardly any studies, and social support was assessed as an outcome variable in even fewer studies. Future social support intervention research would benefit from clear definitions of social support, a clear description of the intended mechanism of action and the actual intervention, and the inclusion of perceived social support as a study outcome.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Teresa Broers and Rachelle Seguin from Queen's University's Family Medicine Centre in Kingston, Canada for their help during the preparation of this manuscript. The Netherlands Heart Foundation and the Stichting Dr Catharine van Tussenbroek are gratefully acknowledged for their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    M W Verheijden & W A van Staveren

  2. TNO Quality of Life/Work and Employment, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands

    M W Verheijden

  3. Department of Family Medicine, University Medical Centre St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    J C Bakx & C van Weel

  4. Communication and Innovation Studies Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    M A Koelen

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  1. M W Verheijden
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Correspondence to M W Verheijden.

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Verheijden, M., Bakx, J., van Weel, C. et al. Role of social support in lifestyle-focused weight management interventions. Eur J Clin Nutr 59 (Suppl 1), S179–S186 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602194

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