This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:To assess the effects of psychosocial interventions on mental health and well-being for survivors of rape and sexual assault experienced during adulthood.

Background Obesity is a cardiovascular disease risk factor. Conventional weight loss (CWL) programmes focus on weight loss, however ‘health, not weight loss, focused’ (HNWL) programmes concentrate on improved health and well-being, irrespective of weight loss. What are the differences in CVD risk outcomes between these programmes? Aim To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effects of HNWL with CWL programmes on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Methods We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ASSIA, clinical trial registers, commercial websites and reference lists for randomised controlled trials comparing the two programmes (initially searched up to August 2015 and searched updated to 5 April 2019). We used the Mantel-Haneszel fixed-effect model to pool results. Sub-group and sensitivity analyses that accounted for variations in length of follow-up, enhanced programmes and risk of bias dealt with heterogeneity. Results Eight randomised controlled trials of 20,242 potential studies were included. Improvements in total cholesterol-HDL ratio (mean difference − 0.21 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval [− 3.91, 3.50]) and weight loss (− 0.28 kg [− 2.00, 1.44]) favoured HNWL compared to CWL programmes in the long term (53–104 week follow-up), whereas improvements in systolic (− 1.14 mmHg, [− 5.84, 3.56]) and diastolic (− 0.15 mmHg, [− 3.64, 3.34]) blood pressure favoured CWL programmes. These differences did not reach statistical significance. Statistically significant improvements in body satisfaction (− 4.30 [− 8.32, − 0.28]) and restrained eating behaviour (− 4.30 [− 6.77, − 1.83]) favoured HNWL over CWL programmes. Conclusions We found no long-term significant differences in improved CVD risk factors; however, body satisfaction and restrained eating behaviour improved more with HNWL compared to CWL programmes. Yet firm conclusions cannot be drawn from small studies with high losses to follow-up and data sometimes arising from a single small study. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42015019505 Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13643-019-1083-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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This research examines the impact of attending a Well Now course on participants’ wellbeing and contrasts this with their reports of previous experiences of seeking support with weight concerns. The Well Now course teaches health-gain and body respect. As such, it offers people a way of making sense of their experiences around food and eating that is premised on criticality, compassion and respect. This is the first of two articles discussing research findings. This was a qualitative, community-based study using semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The participants were women and men who had completed a 6 session Well Now course. Interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed verbatim and data were manually sorted. Coding categories were developed and participants’ quotes were assigned to these using thematic analysis. The study had ethics approval*. Participants described how engaging with the Well Now philosophy in a supportive group had beneficially impacted their health and sense of self-worth. The reorientation made available through Well Now enhanced psychosocial variables and behaviours known to impact on health, such as mood, self-esteem, eating/exercise habits and interpersonal relationships. They recounted instances where recommendations to follow a weight-corrective approach, and attendant size bias seen in health practitioner’s attitudes, had had a detrimental impact on their wellbeing and sense of self-worth. A professional commitment to socio-politically aware practice is recommended as a means of advancing equity, helping people heal from body shame and meeting our ethical responsibilities as health practitioners.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (qualitative). The objectives are as follows: This review will gather and synthesise the experiences of interventions for survivors of sexual abuse and violence, their families, as well as the professionals who deliver them.