The Effectiveness of Social Support-Based Interventions for Dietary and Physical Activity in People with Overweight and Obesity: Protocol for a Systematic Review (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Obesity is a global public health concern, affecting roughly one in three individuals. Social support has been identified as a key factor in promoting healthy behaviours, including dietary improvements and increased physical activity. While previous reviews have focused primarily on weight loss, there is limited evidence on how social support-based interventions influence diet and physical activity behaviours specifically. OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate i) the effectiveness of social support-based interventions in improving dietary and physical activity behaviours among adults with overweight and obesity and ii) identify which types of social support are most effective in facilitating positive behavioural changes. METHODS The review protocol is registered with PROSPERO and follows PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search will be conducted across six databases: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Eligible studies will include adults with overweight or obesity who have participated in structured social support interventions targeting diet and/or physical activity. Two independent reviewers will screen studies and assess risk of bias using the revised JBI critical appraisal tools. An overview of the studies, including key features, intervention approaches, and outcomes, will be presented via tables and a descriptive summary. Where appropriate, meta-analyses will be conducted, with results including pooled effect estimates for dietary and physical activity outcomes, alongside subgroup analyses. Qualitative and quantitative findings will be integrated to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the interventions and their effects. RESULTS The systematic review started in October 2024. The literature searches identified 1,728 articles, with 1,520 remaining after duplicate removal. Following title and abstract screening, 55 articles were assessed at full text, and 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction and quality assessment are ongoing. CONCLUSIONS This review will synthesise current evidence on the effectiveness of social support-based interventions for improving diet and physical activity among adults with overweight and obesity. The findings will inform the development of future interventions and contribute to public health strategies aimed at addressing obesity through social and behavioural approaches. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO CRD42024598335; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024598335.