SynthesisInternational journal of obesity (2005)2014
A systematic review of the effectiveness of individual, community and societal-level interventions at reducing socio-economic inequalities in obesity among adults.
Synthesis in International journal of obesity (2005), 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 46 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
46 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A systematic review of inequalities in the uptake of, adherence to, and effectiveness of behavioral weight management interventions in adults.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2022Pooled it
- Examining the effectiveness of place-based interventions to improve public health and reduce health inequalities: an umbrella review.BMC public health · 2021Pooled it
- Socio-economic inequalities in the effectiveness of workplace health promotion programmes on body mass index: An individual participant data meta-analysis.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2020Pooled it
- The effects of public health policies on health inequalities in high-income countries: an umbrella review.BMC public health · 2018Pooled it
- Use of programme theory to understand the differential effects of interventions across socio-economic groups in systematic reviews-a systematic methodology review.Systematic reviews · 2017Pooled it
- Impact of universal interventions on social inequalities in physical activity among older adults: an equity-focused systematic review.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2017Pooled it
- The impact of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages according to socio-economic position: a systematic review of the evidence.Public health nutrition · 2016Pooled it
- Diet and physical activity interventions to prevent or treat obesity in South Asian children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2015Pooled it
- A systematic review of the effectiveness of individual, community and societal level interventions at reducing socioeconomic inequalities in obesity amongst children.BMC public health · 2014Pooled it
- Trial
- Social Network Analysis of the Effects of a Social Media-Based Weight Loss Intervention Targeting Adults of Low Socioeconomic Status: Single-Arm Intervention Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Trial
- Trial
- Evaluation of an emotion regulation and healthy lifestyle program (HealthTRAC) for adolescents with obesity: a randomized controlled trial protocol.Contemporary clinical trials communications · 2026Article
- Digital and Blended Lifestyle Interventions for Preschool-Aged Children and Families With a Low Socioeconomic Position and the General Population: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- The importance of cancer prevention policies to inform and guide preventative and screening measures for people with intellectual disabilities: The COST project "Cancer- Understanding Prevention in Intellectual Disabilities".Journal of intellectual disabilities : JOID · 2026Article
- Advancing knowledge, maps and tools to address obesity and related socio-economic disparities in Europe: the OBCT project.Global health action · 2025Article
- Heterogeneous effects on body mass index in the "checkup championship": A behavioral science-based health promotion program by health interest level.Preventive medicine reports · 2025Article
- How is maternal, newborn, and child health addressed in Heat Health Action Plans? A scoping review and content analysis.Journal of global health · 2025Article
- Are there inequalities in the attendance at and effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions for adults in the UK? An individual participant data meta-analysis.BMJ public health · 2025Article
- From Surviving to Thriving: Key Considerations for Weight Control Across Diverse Cancer Survivorship Populations.Obesity science & practice · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSocioeconomic inequalities in obesity are well established in high-income countries. There is a lack of evidence of the types of intervention that are effective in reducing these inequalities among adults.
objectivesTo systematically review studies of the effectiveness of individual, community and societal interventions in reducing socio-economic inequalities in obesity among adults.
methodsNine electronic databases were searched from start date to October 2012 along with website and grey literature searches. The review examined the best available international evidence (both experimental and observational) of interventions at an individual, community and societal level that might reduce inequalities in obesity among adults (aged 18 years or over) in any setting and country. Studies were included if they reported a body fatness-related outcome and if they included a measure of socio-economic status. Data extraction and quality appraisal were conducted using established mechanisms and narrative synthesis was conducted.
resultsThe 'best available' international evidence was provided by 20 studies. At the individual level, there was evidence of the effectiveness of primary care delivered tailored weight loss programmes among deprived groups. Community based behavioural weight loss interventions and community diet clubs (including workplace ones) also had some evidence of effectiveness-at least in the short term. Societal level evaluations were few, low quality and inconclusive. Further, there was little evidence of long term effectiveness, and few studies of men or outside the USA. However, there was no evidence to suggest that interventions increase inequalities.
conclusionsThe best available international evidence suggests that some individual and community-based interventions may be effective in reducing socio-economic inequalities in obesity among adults in the short term. Further research is required particularly of more complex, multi-faceted and societal-level interventions.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.