Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42256455›Full record

ArticleObesity science & practice2026

Consistent Support Group Attendance Is Vital for Sustained Total Body Weight Loss in a Community Gastroenterology Clinic.

Sangini Tolia, Sejal Gunaratnam, Nishant Kumar, Mallory Evans, Caitlin Seibel, Aruna V Sarma, Naresh Gunaratnam

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Obesity science & practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

7 authors.

Sangini ToliaInternal Medicine Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital Ann Arbor Michigan USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9742-4378
Sejal GunaratnamUniversity of Toledo School of Medicine and Life Sciences Toledo Ohio USA.
Nishant KumarWayne State University School of Medicine Detroit Michigan USA.
Mallory EvansHuron Gastroenterology Ypsilanti Michigan USA.
Caitlin SeibelDepartment of Urology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6210-4434
Aruna V SarmaDepartment of Urology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA.
Naresh GunaratnamMNGI Digestive Health Minneapolis Minnesota USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Obesity is a major modifiable risk factor for gastrointestinal disease. Although lifestyle modification remains the basis of treatment, these interventions are often ineffective when self-directed. This study aimed to assess the effect on weight loss when lifestyle modification is paired with a support group model. Methods: Ninety-four patients with obesity enrolled in the weight loss program at a community gastroenterology practice and participated in a 6-month support group. These sessions provided patients with a space to discuss shared experiences and receive education. Total body weight loss was examined by the level of support group attendance. Results: Patients who demonstrated high levels of support group attendance (≥ 75%) had significantly greater mean absolute ( Conclusion: This study demonstrates that lifestyle modification is effective in achieving clinically significant weight loss when patients have consistent engagement, measured here by attendance, in a support group. Regular support group attendance has been validated as an effective tool to maintain lifestyle modification participation and adherence, and it appears equally important in sustaining long-term weight loss.

Indexed as

communityMASLDsupport groupweight loss

Identifiers

PMID42256455
PMCPMC13239632

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.