ArticleObesity science & practice2016
A mixed methods approach to improving recruitment and engagement of emerging adults in behavioural weight loss programs.
Article in Obesity science & practice, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
34 citing papers in PubMed.
- Weight gain prevention interventions in the Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention (SNAP) trial promote ideal cardiovascular health in young adults.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) · 2023Trial
- Life events and stress among young adults in weight gain prevention trial.Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association · 2023Trial
- Recruitment and retention of emerging adults in lifestyle interventions: Findings from the REACH trial.Contemporary clinical trials · 2022Trial
- Effect of a Lifestyle Intervention on Cardiometabolic Health Among Emerging Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2022Trial
- Group Lifestyle Intervention With Mobile Health for Young Adults With Serious Mental Illness: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) · 2022Trial
- A Secondary Data Analysis Examining Young Adults' Performance in an Internet Weight Loss Program with Financial Incentives.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) · 2020Trial
- Early Engagement is Associated with Better Weight Loss in Emerging Adults.American journal of health behavior · 2019Trial
- Adapting evidence-based behavioral weight loss programs for emerging adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of health psychology · 2019Trial
- Psychological Determinants of the Weight Cycle: A Review of Perceived Stress and Self-Efficacy.Current obesity reports · 2026Review
- Perceived Barriers for Physical Activity in Overweight and Obese Youth: A Scoping Review.Health science reports · 2026Review
- A Qualitative Study Exploring Diabetes Prevention Intervention Needs and Ideas Among Young Adults at High Risk for Diabetes.Journal of nutrition education and behavior · 2026Article
- Promoting adherence to weight-related behaviors in young adults: Design of the Nudge microrandomized trial.Contemporary clinical trials · 2026Article
- Optimizing a mobile just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) for weight loss in young adults: Rationale and design of the AGILE factorial randomized trial.Contemporary clinical trials · 2025Article
- Health, health behaviors, and medical care utilization among college students with obesity.Journal of American college health : J of ACH · 2025Article
- Recruitment and retention of participants with obesity into a longitudinal birth cohort: the Breastfeeding and Early Child Health (BEACH) study.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2025Article
- Behavioral weight loss interventions in college health centers: A qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators to implementation.Obesity science & practice · 2024Article
- Acceptability of a Self-Guided Lifestyle Intervention Among Young Men: Mixed Methods Analysis of Pilot Findings.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- Factors influencing engagement in in-person and remotely delivered lifestyle interventions for young adults with serious mental illness: A qualitative study.Early intervention in psychiatry · 2024Article
- In it for the long haul: the complexities of managing overweight in family practice: qualitative thematic analysis from the Health eLiteracy for Prevention in General Practice (HeLP-GP) trial.BMC primary care · 2023Article
- A Qualitative Study on Young Men's Experiences of Intentional Weight-Gain.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveEmerging adults ages 18-25 are at high risk for obesity, but are markedly underrepresented in behavioural weight loss (BWL) programs and experience lower engagement and retention relative to older adults. PURPOSE: To utilize a mixed methods approach to inform future efforts to effectively recruit and engage this high-risk population in BWL programs.
methodsWe used a convergent parallel design in which quantitative and qualitative data were given equal priority. Study 1 (
resultsWeight loss was of interest, but weight itself was not a central motivation; an emphasis on overall lifestyle, self-improvement and fitness emerged as driving factors. Key barriers were time, motivation and money. Recruitment processes should be primarily online with messages tailored specifically to motivations and preferences of this age group. Preferences for a program were reduced intensity and brief, hybrid format with some in-person contact, individual level coaching, experiential learning and peer support. Key methods of promoting engagement and retention were autonomy and choice, money and creating an optimal default.
conclusionsAn individually tailored lifestyle intervention that addresses a spectrum of health behaviours, promotes autonomy and emphasizes activity and fitness may facilitate recruitment and engagement in this population better than traditional BWL protocols.
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