Changing habits may help adults with obesity attend more and move more.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   Adults with obesity, meaning a body mass index of 30 or more, from 9 studies. The paper does not give a total number of people.

2. 02

   What they did

   The behaviour-change groups used methods such as goal setting and tracking progress. The other groups got usual fitness care, a standard weight-loss plan, health advice or relaxation.

3. 03

   What happened

   The behaviour-change groups went to about 18 more sessions in every 100 than the other groups. They also did about 106 more minutes of physical activity a week, and results differed a lot between studies. The review did not rate study quality, and it could not tell if weak results were left out.

What the review found

1. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across 10 studies, setting goals and tracking progress helped people go to more sessions.

   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Action: Set a specific goaltested
   • Rule: Put something at staketested
   • Rule: Reward yourself right aftertested
   • Rule: Put a visible cue where you'll do ittested

   Pooled analysis of 10 studies · vs people given usual programmes, education or relaxation · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. HelpedGoals

   Across 4 studies, the methods added about 106 more minutes of exercise a week than others.

   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Action: Set a specific goaltested
   • Rule: Put something at staketested
   • Rule: Reward yourself right aftertested
   • Rule: Put a visible cue where you'll do ittested

   Pooled analysis of 4 studies · vs people given usual programmes, education or relaxation · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source