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Behavior, Psychology and Sociology

The effectiveness of social-support-based weight-loss interventions—a systematic review and meta-analysis

International Journal of Obesity (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of social-support-based weight-loss interventions in adult populations with excess weight or obesity.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials that reported on the effectiveness of weight-loss interventions which incorporated a social connectedness component. To this end, we conducted a rigorous database search of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane, and PubMed for relevant articles. The quality of eligible trials was evaluated by the Cochrane Risk‐of‐Bias2 tool. Five meta‐analyses on intervention effectiveness in terms of weight loss were executed at 2–4-month assessment, 6-month assessment, end of intervention, and 3- and 6-month follow-up.

Results

Twenty-four trials involving couples or peers targeting weight loss in 4 919 adults with BMI ≥ 25 met inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses detected no significant effect of social-support-based weight-loss interventions at either 2–4 month or 6-month assessment. There were, however, significant effects at end of intervention [95% CI 0.39, p = 0.04] and at 3-month [95% CI 0.63, p < 0.01] and 6-month [95% CI 0.34, p = 0.05] follow-up.

Conclusions

There seem to be a significant effect at the end of intervention and 3- and 6-month follow-up. However, further high-quality studies are needed before drawing any clear conclusions.

Trial registration

PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020173696.

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Fig. 1: Flowchart of search and selection of studies.
Fig. 2: Bar chart of intervention length in months.
Fig. 3: Risk of bias across studies.
Fig. 4: Forest plot at 2–4- and 6-month assessment.
Fig. 5: Forest plot at end of intervention.
Fig. 6: Forest plot at 3- and 6-month follow-up.

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Funding

This review is affiliated with University of Southern Denmark

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. User Perspectives and Community-based Interventions, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    Mette Tækker Jensen, Svetlana Solgaard Nielsen, Christina Jessen-Winge & Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen

  2. The Research Unit PROgrez, Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Naestved, Slagelse & Ringsted Hospitals, Slagelse, Denmark

    Svetlana Solgaard Nielsen

  3. Department of Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, University College Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Christina Jessen-Winge

  4. Danish Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Soenderborg, Denmark

    Christina Merete Tvede Madsen

  5. Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    Christina Merete Tvede Madsen

  6. Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    Trine Thilsing, Anders Larrabee Sønderlund & Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen

  7. Research Unit of General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark

    Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen

  8. DRIVEN, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen

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Contributions

MTJ, SSN and JRC wrote the first draft together. CJW, CTM, MTJ, SSN and JRC conducted the literature search and study selection. MTJ and SSN extracted data from the included articles. MTJ, SSN, JRC, CJW, TT, and ALS conducted the risk of bias analysis. All authors were included in the writing and approved the final version for submission.

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Correspondence to Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen.

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Jensen, M.T., Nielsen, S.S., Jessen-Winge, C. et al. The effectiveness of social-support-based weight-loss interventions—a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Obes (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-024-01468-9

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