Adherence
A structured group-based behavioral intervention utilizing social identity principles can effectively support weight management in adults with severe obesity (BMI ≥35 or ≥40 kg/m²) by leveraging shared social identity and social connectedness to drive behavioral change.
If you have severe obesity, joining a structured group program that focuses on building connections with other participants (not just learning diet tips) may be more effective for long-term weight loss than individual counseling. The PROGROUP protocol involves 15 sessions over 5 months, starting with weekly meetings and moving to fortnightly maintenance sessions, facilitated by a multidisciplinary team to ensure social support drives your behavioral changes.
Key psychosocial resources linked to behaviour change, including social support and self-efficacy, can be triggered when group members form a sense of social connectedness, or shared social identity, with other group members... A recent systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed that interventions which specifically build shared social identity have a moderate-to-strong impact on a range of health outcomes... Our recent review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of group-based behavioural interventions reported superior weight loss at 6 months in group interventions versus controls... with effects persisting up to 24 months
Why this rating
The paper is a feasibility protocol for a new trial; it cites previous RCTs showing superiority but notes that generalizability to severe obesity (BMI ≥35/40) is 'unclear' and the current study is not powered to test effectiveness.
Source
A group-based behavioural intervention for weight management (PROGROUP) versus usual care in adults with severe obesity: a feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol
Dawn Swancutt et al. · Pilot and Feasibility Studies · 2022
DOI 10.1186/s40814-022-01167-0
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This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →