ArticleBMC public health2021
Impact of COVID-19 on health-related behaviours, well-being and weight management.
Article in BMC public health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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
10 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effect of parent attendance at an adult commercial weight management programme on their children.BMJ paediatrics open · 2026Article
- Resistant and Refractory Obesity: The Complexity of Anti-Obesity Therapy Failure.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Article
- Feasibility of engaging parents attending an adult weight management programme with child weight management support: a mixed methods study.BMJ paediatrics open · 2025Article
- The impacts of mask-wearing regulations on stroke morbidity and mortality: a population-based retrospective cohort study in China.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Culinary and Gastronomic Practices during the Periods of Restrictions on Movement Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Province of Alicante (Spain).Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Is time-restricted eating a robust eating regimen during periods of disruptions in daily life? A qualitative study of perspectives of people with overweight during COVID-19.BMC public health · 2022Article
- Weight loss outcomes achieved by adults accessing an online programme offered as part of Public Health England's 'Better Health' campaign.BMC public health · 2022Article
- A qualitative exploration of weight management during COVID-19.Clinical obesity · 2022Article
- A Service Evaluation of More Than 27 000 Adults Referred to a Community Weight Management Program: 24-Month Outcomes.Journal of primary care & community healthArticle
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 at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundWeight management is complex for people even in times of stability. Supporting individuals to develop strategies to maintain a healthier weight when there are additional life challenges may prevent relapse. This mixed-methods study describes the impact the COVID-19 restrictions had on adults engaged in weight management before and during the pandemic in order to determine helpful strategies.
methodsLongitudinal data was captured from online surveys completed by Slimming World (SW) members 0-4 weeks after joining, October/November 2019, providing pre-joining and baseline (T0&T1), 3- (T2) and 6- month (T3-during COVID-19) data. Representatives from the general population, not attending a weight management service, completed the same questionnaires providing cross-sectional control data. All weights are self-reported. For this study, questions assessing the impact of the COVID-19 challenges on health-related behaviours and well-being are included comparing responses at T0/T1, T2 & T3. Longitudinal data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA and cross-sectional data, one-way independent ANOVAs to compare means. Comparisons between SW members and controls were determined using z-proportion tests. Qualitative data generated was thematically analysed using a six-step approach to produce the key emerging themes.
results222 SW members completed all three surveys, achieving a weight loss of 7.7 ± 7.5%. They maintained positive health-related behaviour changes made since joining, including increased fruit and vegetables (p < 0.001), fewer sugary drinks (p < 0.001), cooking from scratch (p < 0.001) and increased activity levels (p < 0.001). Despite COVID-19 restrictions, they were still reporting improvements in all behaviours and had healthier scores than the controls on all but alcohol intake, although still within guidelines. Qualitative data indicated that the situation created various challenges to managing weight with fresh foods harder to access, comfort eating, drinking more alcohol, eating more sugary foods and snacking through boredom. However, some reported having more free time enabling better planning, more time to cook from scratch and increased physical activity.
conclusionsThe findings highlight the value of peer, group and online support and guidance for individuals to develop sustainable behaviour changes and a level of resilience. These strategies can then be drawn upon enabling maintenance of lifestyle changes and management of weight even in challenging times.
Indexed as
Identifiers
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.