Nighat Faruqi|Catherine Spooner|Chandni Joshi|Jane Lloyd|Sarah Dennis|Nigel Stocks|Jane Taggart|Mark Harris
Primary health care-level interventions targeting health literacy and their effect on weight loss: a systematic review
UNSW Sydney|UNSW Sydney|UNSW Sydney|UNSW Sydney|UNSW Sydney|University of Sydney|University of Adelaide|UNSW Sydney|UNSW Sydney
enhancing individuals health literacy weight loss important addressing increasing burden chronic disease due overweight obesity conducted systematic review narrative synthesis determine effectiveness lifestyle interventions aimed improving adults knowledge skills weight loss primary health care literature search included englishlanguage papers published 1990 30 june 2013 reporting research conducted within organisation economic cooperation development member countries twelve electronic databases five journals searched supplemented hand searching study population included adults 18 years old body mass index bmi 25 kgm2 without chronic disease baseline included intervention studies minimum 6 month followup three reviewers independently extracted data two reviewers independently assessed study quality using predefined criteria main outcome change measured weight andor bmi 6 12 months thirteen intervention studies targeting diet physical activity behaviour change improve individuals knowledge andor skills weight loss included 2089 participants 913 studies weak quality seven studies provided training intervention deliverers majority studies 1113 showed significant reduction weight andor bmi least one followup visit consistent associations outcomes related mode intervention delivery number type providers involved intensity intervention evidence effectiveness interventions focussed improving knowledge skills health literacy weight loss however insufficient evidence determine relative effectiveness individual interventions lack studies measuring socioeconomic status needs addressed future research rates obesity high disadvantaged population groups