Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42219591›Full record

SynthesisObesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity2026

Men's Representation in Behavioral Weight Loss Trials: A Systematic Review.

Casey P Regan, Philip J Morgan, Stephanie L Hardacre, Levi Wade, Sherry L Pagoto, Kate Hunt, James M Knox, Ryan J Drew, Myles D Young

Abstract readSystematic ReviewReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Casey P ReganSchool of Science, College of Engineering, Science, and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0202-6485
Philip J MorganGlobal Sport and Movement Collaborative, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5632-8529
Stephanie L HardacreCentre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
Levi WadeGlobal Sport and Movement Collaborative, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
Sherry L PagotoDepartment of Allied Health Sciences, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA.
Kate HuntInstitute for Social Marketing and Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5873-3632
James M KnoxSchool of Science, College of Engineering, Science, and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
Ryan J DrewGlobal Sport and Movement Collaborative, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
Myles D YoungSchool of Science, College of Engineering, Science, and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7670-9196

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHistorically, men have been underrepresented in behavioral weight loss intervention research, despite facing higher risks for obesity-related diseases. Understanding this underrepresentation is critical for designing weight loss interventions that are both inclusive and effective.

objectivesThe primary aim of this systematic review is to (1) examine the proportion of men participating in behavioral weight loss trials. Secondary research questions include (2) how often men are targeted as the primary population; (3) whether certain trial characteristics are associated with higher or lower male participation; and (4) in trials where men are underrepresented (< 40% of participants), how often researchers acknowledge this limitation or discuss implications for generalizability.

methodsA systematic search of SCOPUS, CENTRAL, and MEDLINE was conducted for randomized trials published in English between January 2010 and December 2022. Eligible studies recruited adults (≥ 18 years) into behavioral weight loss interventions using a randomized controlled design. Study characteristics associated with men's participation were examined using t-tests and ANOVAs.

resultsOf 57,497 participants across 257 trials, only 30% were men. Overall, 21% of studies recruited women only (n = 54) compared to 5% that recruited men only (n = 14). Men's participation was higher in trials targeting adults with a co-occurring physical condition (36% vs. 28%). Of 189 trials recruiting both men and women, 76% recruited < 40% men, but only one-third of these papers acknowledged this as a limitation.

conclusionMen remain underrepresented in behavioral weight loss trials. To overcome this, strategies to improve men's uptake of existing interventions are needed, alongside the development of codesigned gender-tailored approaches.

Indexed as

Behavior TherapyObesityPatient SelectionWeight Reduction ProgramsHumansMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicWeight Lossbehavior changedietgender‐tailoredmenmen's healthobesityoverweightphysical activityrandomized controlled trials

Identifiers

PMID42219591
PMCPMC13749309

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

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.