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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., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Obesity can limit occupational participation because of physical and mental barriers. Weight loss programmes emphasizing dietary and physical activity may lower body weight; however, mental barriers and sustainable weight loss seemed to be challenged. Weight loss influences daily patterns and structure of occupations and finding a balance in daily life during the weight loss process might improve sustainable weight loss., Aim: To explore if and how health professionals conducting weight loss programmes in Danish municipalities address elements related to occupational balance in the daily life of citizens with obesity., Material and Methods: Twenty individual interviews with health professionals from Danish municipalities were conducted and analysed., Results: (1) Helping participants find the time and energy to lose weight , (2) Emphasizing small steps for sustainable changes and (3) Utilizing the citizen's life experience for direction., Conclusion: Elements of occupational balance might be addressed by the participants, however values and meaningfulness regarding occupations seem to be missing. Integrating occupational balance in weight loss programmes could enable health professionals to understand and address sustainable weight loss., Significance: Occupational therapists may be ideally suited to support citizens with obesity to sustain weight loss by supporting a balanced life focussing on meaningfulness and values in occupations.

Background: Half of the Danish population is overweight or obese. Obesity can negatively impact health and daily life. The Danish National Board of Health´s guidelines for weight loss programmes to the Danish municipalities, recommends multidisciplinary teams, including occupational therapy, and interventions targeting diet, exercise, psychosocial coping, and everyday life., Aim: To describe the structure and content of obesity programmes offered by the 98 municipalities in Denmark, including details such as the health professionals, programme recipients, dose, structure, content, and the role of occupational therapists., Method: A quantitative content analysis was conducted on 234 published Danish municipal weight loss programmes. Programme descriptions were identified through internet searches using both sundhed.dk and Google.com., Results: Various health professionals conducted the programmes, and five involved occupational therapists. Programmes targeted children, adolescent and adults. Dose, structure and content were heterogeneous., Conclusion: The majority of the programmes were neither evidence-based, nor did they follow recommendations from Danish National Board of Health. Few programmes addressed the role of habits or social participation. Occupational therapists appear to be under-utilized as providers of the programmes., Significance: Occupational therapists have a role to play in weight loss programmes, because of their training in activity analysis and their consideration of people, environments, and occupations. These components are included in the recommendations about psychosocial aspects and everyday life from the Danish National Board of Health.

Background: The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly worldwide within the last decade. As obesity is recognised as a contributing factor when developing various health threatening chronic diseases, prevention initiatives focusing on weight loss are becoming more important. Because of the time spent at the workplace, workplaces can be optimal arenas for weight loss programs and these programs have been effective to decrease body weight. Thus, reasons for engaging in weight loss interventions needs exploring, in order to engage more workplaces in weight loss interventions. Such information provides important knowledge that may help to inform decisions of municipalities, employers and other public health decision makers, when and if implementing weight loss interventions. The aim of this study was therefore to explore reasons for employee engagement in weight loss projects at the workplace and the incentives a municipality, a manager at a home-care centre, and a project manager have to launch such project., Methods: A stratified case study was conducted. A representative from the municipality, the manager at a home-care centre, the project manager of the weight loss intervention and six health-care workers were interviewed at the end of a one-year weight loss intervention at the workplace. Data were analysed using Systematic Text Condensation., Results: Analysis identified different views and considerations for engaging in a weight loss intervention at the workplace. For the representative of the municipality the possible economical gain of the project was in focus. The project manager and the manager of the home-care centre both reflected mainly on improvement of the healthcare workers health. For the project manager, achieving good scientific results was highlighted as well. However, the employees were influenced by several factors, such as their own health and weight loss, the pressure from the environment and their struggle for recognition., Conclusions: This study concluded that if targeting the increasing worldwide obesity problem through workplace initiated weight loss programs, the sales pitch to managements and employers have to be tailored in order to increase the participation and the motivation for the initiative., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov : NCT01015716 , registration data 14.12.2010 (Prospectively registered).