Effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for preventing harmful weight gain among young adults from lower socioeconomic status and ethnically diverse backgrounds: a systematic review

Abstract

The incidence of overweight and obesity are increasing with each successive generation of young adults. Associated co-morbidities will emerge at an earlier age unless weight gain is prevented. Evidence has demonstrated young adults (aged 18-35 years) from low socioeconomic and ethnically diverse backgrounds are at greater risk of overweight or obesity, yet it is unclear how to effectively intervene in this population. This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions conducted in this population. Thirty studies reporting on lifestyle interventions for prevention of weight gain were identified from eight electronic databases searched. Six interventions included subgroup analyses to determine if ethnicity moderated weight change, and two included subgroup analyses to determine if socioeconomic status had an effect on change in weight. Five of these six studies were effective in preventing weight gain, and subgroup analyses showed no differences in effect by ethnicity. Of these five studies, two included a subgroup analysis that showed socioeconomic status to have no effect on weight outcome. Despite the promising results from these five lifestyle interventions utilizing online and mobile components to effectively reach and prevent weight gain in this priority population, the evidence base of high quality trials is limited.

Socio‐economic inequalities in the effectiveness of workplace health promotion programmes on body mass index: An individual participant data meta‐analysis

“…Our IPD meta‐analysis, however, showed no differential effects on BMI across socio‐economic groups for workplace health promotion programmes. This is in line with several reviews on public health interventions that showed that the majority of the included studies on the prevention of unhealthy behaviour or obesity did not have differential effects across socio‐economic groups 5–7,9,10,14,15,33 . However, as unhealthy behaviours and obesity are more prevalent in workers in low SEP, the need for effective interventions for these workers remains of eminent importance.…”

A biopsychosocial approach to processes and pathways in the development of overweight and obesity in childhood: Insights from developmental theory and research

“…It is clear, however, that a significant segment of research and theory about the development of OW/OB has been directed to a more ecological approach through a consideration of social, ethnic, evolutionary, cultural, or macroenvironmental factors such as politics and food marketing and that these have important influences on child OW/OB. 3,19,21,22,65,91,92,211,235,329,330 We acknowledged these macroenvironmental factors in Figure 1, but did not directly examine evidence in relation to their contributions to parent behavior such as feeding practices and cognitions (eg, about child weight, food and diet).…”

The efficacy of electronic health interventions targeting improved sleep for achieving prevention of weight gain in adolescents and young to middle‐aged adults: A systematic review

“…Other electronic interventions for weight gain prevention conducted in young adults but without a sleep component report mixed success. Previously, it has been reported that among 30 interventions in 18‐ to 35‐year‐olds, 20 resulted in weight loss . Of these 30 programs tested, 15 were technology mediated and six of these were effective .…”

“…Previously, it has been reported that among 30 interventions in 18‐ to 35‐year‐olds, 20 resulted in weight loss . Of these 30 programs tested, 15 were technology mediated and six of these were effective . The six that prevented weight gain included three with personal contact either face‐to‐face or brief phone coaching .…”

“…The six that prevented weight gain included three with personal contact either face‐to‐face or brief phone coaching . The other three were exclusively delivered via the internet . It must be noted the majority of the 20 successful interventions were of short to moderate durations with relatively short follow‐ups and a longer follow‐up of at least 12 months is desirable for assessing efficacy of any weight management intervention.…”