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Evidence summaries

Psychological Interventions for Overweight or Obesity

Motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy may enhance weight reduction in people with overweight or obesity. They are predominantly useful when combined with dietary and exercise strategies. Level of evidence: "C"

A systematic review and meta-analysis 2 investigated whether integrated motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy leads to changes in lifestyle mediators of overweight and obesity in community-dwelling adults. 10 RCTs involving 1949 participants were included. Integrated motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy had a significant effect in increasing physical activity levels in community-dwelling adults (SMD 0.18, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.31, p < 0.05). The combined intervention resulted in a small, non-significant effect in body composition changes (SMD -0.12, 95% CI -0.24 to 0.01, p=0.07).

    References

    • Barrett S, Begg S, O'Halloran P et al. Integrated motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy for lifestyle mediators of overweight and obesity in community-dwelling adults: a systematic review and meta-analyses. BMCPublic Health 2018;18(1):1160. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords