Weight loss interventions in young people (18 to 25 year olds): a systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review assesses weight loss interventions in young adults (18-25 years), who are vulnerable to weight gain. This age group experience critical life course points (leaving home for higher studies or job, pregnancy, cohabitation) and develop/establish lifestyle and behavioural patterns making this an opportune intervention period. Medline, Embase, Cinahl, PsychINFO and Cochrane Library were searched (1980 to March 2008). All trials and cohort studies with control groups that assessed weight loss interventions in this specific age group were included finally identifying 14 studies. Before and after comparison of behavioural/motivational interventions (-2.40 kg; 95% CI -5.4 to 0.6) and combination interventions (-2.96; 95% CI -4.4 to -1.5) consistently showed weight loss. Behavioural/motivational interventions increased self-efficacy, the desire to control weight, boosted self-esteem, and increased satisfaction with body areas and appearance. Interventions also showed improvements in HDL cholesterol, insulin, glucose and maximum oxygen uptake. However, recruitment to participation in interventions was a barrier for this age group with small sample sizes and short-term interventions. There may be gender differences in preference to participation in certain type of interventions. Further research to understand attitudes towards healthy lifestyle and preferences of interventions is needed to develop suitable interventions for this vulnerable age group.

Risk of bias in randomised controlled trials of health behaviour change interventions: Evidence, practices and challenges

“…Systematic reviews suggest that many health behaviour change (HBC) trials suffer from a moderate to high risk of bias (e.g. Oberjé, de Kinderen, Evers, van Woerkum, & de Bruin, 2013;Poobalan, Aucott, Precious, Crombie, & Smith, 2009); more so than, for example, drug trials (Crocetti, Amin, & Scherer, 2010). Moreover, risk-of-bias scores have been found to explain heterogeneity in effect sizes, especially in trials with subjective outcome measures (Savovic et al, 2012;Wood et al, 2008).…”

Self-Esteem and Body Image Perception in a Sample of University Students

“…A systematic review concluded that weight control and behavioral interventions could be successful ways to boost self-esteem and increase satisfaction with body areas too (Poobalan, Aucott, Precious, Crombie, Smith, 2010). Among behavioral interventions', besides a healthy lifestyle or cutting out unhealthy foods, we can include an increased number of adequate physical activities and spending more time outdoors in the natural environment (Pop, 2015 b).…”

Weight expectations, motivations for weight change and perceived factors influencing weight management in young Australian women: a cross-sectional study

“…Interventions to prevent weight gain and obesity among young women have the potential to significantly impact health outcomes and reduce health-care costs at the population level. However, traditional behavioural approaches to weight control may be ineffective for young women, with research suggesting lower rates of recruitment and attendance, higher attrition and less successful weight-loss outcomes (10) Furthermore, recent systematic reviews of weight management interventions in young adults (11)(12)(13) , including young women specifically (14) , have found insufficient evidence to guide intervention design and delivery in this area. One review concluded that there appear to be preferences for intervention by gender (13) .…”

“…However, traditional behavioural approaches to weight control may be ineffective for young women, with research suggesting lower rates of recruitment and attendance, higher attrition and less successful weight-loss outcomes (10) Furthermore, recent systematic reviews of weight management interventions in young adults (11)(12)(13) , including young women specifically (14) , have found insufficient evidence to guide intervention design and delivery in this area. One review concluded that there appear to be preferences for intervention by gender (13) . Therefore in order to inform the design of interventions that are capable of engaging young adults, greater knowledge of the expectations of weight management programmes, motivations for weight loss, and barriers to and facilitators of behaviour change for each gender is required.…”