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A systematic review of inequalities in the uptake of, adherence to, and effectiveness of behavioral weight management interventions in adults.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Article

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Abstract

The extent to which behavioral weight management interventions affect health inequalities is uncertain, as is whether trials of these interventions directly consider inequalities. We conducted a systematic review, synthesizing evidence on how different aspects of inequality impact uptake, adherence, and effectiveness in trials of behavioral weight management interventions. We included (cluster-) randomized controlled trials of primary care-applicable behavioral weight management interventions in adults with overweight or obesity published prior to March 2020. Data about trial uptake, intervention adherence, attrition, and weight change by PROGRESS-Plus criteria (place of residence, race/ethnicity, occupation, gender, religion, education, socioeconomic status, social capital, plus other discriminating factors) were extracted. Data were synthesized narratively and summarized in harvest plots. We identified 91 behavioral weight loss interventions and 12 behavioral weight loss maintenance interventions. Fifty-six of the 103 trials considered inequalities in relation to at least one of intervention or trial uptake (n = 15), intervention adherence (n = 15), trial attrition (n = 32), or weight outcome (n = 34). Most trials found no inequalities gradient. If a gradient was observed for trial uptake, intervention adherence, and trial attrition, those considered "more advantaged" did best. Alternative methods of data synthesis that enable data to be pooled and increase statistical power may enhance understanding of inequalities in behavioral weight management interventions.

Description

Keywords

inequalities, interventions, obesity, weight management, Adult, Humans, Nutrition Therapy, Obesity, Overweight, Social Class, Weight Loss

Journal Title

Obes Rev

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1467-7881
1467-789X

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
MRC (MC_UU_00006/6)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/4)
JMB, RAJ, SJG and ALA are supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) (Grant MC_UU_00006/6). MDMcD is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.