Programmes made people plan to eat better and be more active.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   The 23 studies had 43 to 1,011 people each, aged 11 to 64. In each study, 49% to 100% of the people were women.

2. 02

   What they did

   Each programme was compared with a group that did not get it. The programmes used about five methods each, such as setting goals and tracking progress. Plans were measured right after and up to six months later, and actions up to a year later.

3. 03

   What happened

   Plans rose more than in the other groups, and actions rose too, but by less; no single method raised actions more. Feedback was linked to smaller rises in actions, and planning for slips to smaller rises in plans. Most people already had strong plans at the start, so the authors call the results provisional.

What the review found

1. HelpedMotivation

   Programmes made people plan to eat better and be more active than the other groups did.

   Pooled analysis of 29 studies · vs people who did not get the programme · they rated themselves · ⚠ the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. HelpedGoals

   Programmes also led to more healthy eating and activity than the other groups, though less than the rise in plans.

   Pooled analysis of 29 studies · vs people who did not get the programme · ⚠ the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

3. HelpedMotivation

   Programmes that showed how the behaviour affects health got people to plan more than other programmes did.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested

   Pooled analysis of 0 studies · vs programmes that did not explain this · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source