ReviewBMJ open2015
A qualitative evidence synthesis on the management of male obesity.
Review in BMJ open, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 3 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
26 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A systematic review examining socioeconomic factors in trials of interventions for men that report weight as an outcome.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2022Pooled it
- Perspectives into the experience of successful, substantial long-term weight-loss maintenance: a systematic review.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2021Pooled it
- Cognitive and behavioural strategies for self-directed weight loss: systematic review of qualitative studies.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2017Pooled it
- Secondary analysis of the Game of Stones trial for men with obesity: examining moderator effects and exploratory outcomes.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) · 2025Trial
- Gender differences in response to an opportunistic brief intervention for obesity in primary care: Data from the BWeL trial.Clinical obesity · 2021Trial
- Recruiting men from across the socioeconomic spectrum via GP registers and community outreach to a weight management feasibility randomised controlled trial.BMC medical research methodology · 2020Trial
- Trial
- Exploring Gender Differences in a Randomized Trial of Weight Loss Maintenance.American journal of men's health · 2017Trial
- Article
- Male perceptions and experiences of weight loss initiatives: Considerations for sustainable lifestyle practices.PloS one · 2026Article
- Understanding the selection of support partners in a behavioral weight loss program.Psychology & health · 2025Article
- What works for men? Participant perspectives from a mixed-gender weight-management trial with incentives.Contemporary clinical trials communications · 2025Article
- A brief online tool to increase behavioral weight loss treatment initiation: Protocol for a cluster randomized trial.Contemporary clinical trials · 2025Article
- Implementation of an Australian football themed men's health program in rural Australia: a mixed-methods study.Health promotion international · 2025Article
- Patient Perceptions of Weight Stigma Experiences in Healthcare: A Qualitative Analysis.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2024Article
- Gender-sensitive community weight-loss programmes to address overweight and obesity in men: a scoping review.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Gamification and neurotraining to engage men in behavioral weight loss: Protocol for a factorial randomized controlled trial.Contemporary clinical trials · 2023Article
- Article
- The development of a core outcomes set for self-management interventions for patients living with obesity.Clinical obesity · 2022Review
- Investigating the delivery of health improvement interventions through professional football club community trusts-strengths and challenges.Public health in practice (Oxford, England) · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo investigate what weight management interventions work for men, with which men, and under what circumstances.
designRealist synthesis of qualitative studies. DATA SOURCES: Sensitive searches of 11 electronic databases from 1990 to 2012 supplemented by grey literature searches. STUDY SELECTION: Studies published between 1990 and 2012 reporting qualitative research with obese men, or obese men in contrast to obese women and lifestyle or drug weight management were included. The studies included men aged 16 years or over, with no upper age limit, with a mean or median body mass index of 30 kg/m(2) in all settings.
results22 studies were identified, including 5 qualitative studies linked to randomised controlled trials of weight maintenance interventions and 8 qualitative studies linked to non-randomised intervention studies, and 9 relevant UK-based qualitative studies not linked to any intervention. Health concerns and the perception that certain programmes had 'worked' for other men were the key factors that motivated men to engage with weight management programmes. Barriers to engagement and adherence with programmes included: men not problematising their weight until labelled 'obese'; a lack of support for new food choices by friends and family, and reluctance to undertake extreme dieting. Retaining some autonomy over what is eaten; flexibility about treats and alcohol, and a focus on physical activity were attractive features of programmes. Group interventions, humour and social support facilitated attendance and adherence. Men were motivated to attend programmes in settings that were convenient, non-threatening and congruent with their masculine identities, but men were seldom involved in programme design.
conclusionsMen's perspectives and preferences within the wider context of family, work and pleasure should be sought when designing weight management services. Qualitative research is needed with men to inform all aspects of intervention design, including the setting, optimal recruitment processes and strategies to minimise attrition.
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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.