The transtheoretical model is an effective weight management intervention: a randomized controlled trial

Patrícia Pinheiro de Freitas,Adriano Marçal Pimenta,Adaliene Versiani Matos Ferreira,Aline Cristine Souza Lopes,Luana Caroline dos Santos,Mariana Carvalho de Menezes

doi:10.1186/s12889-020-08796-1

Patrícia Pinheiro de Freitas, Adriano Marçal Pimenta + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08796-1

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Abstract

BackgroundGiven the current worldwide epidemic of obesity, there is a demand for interventions with higher impact, such as those carried out in the primary health care (PHC) setting. Here we evaluate the effect of intervention performed according to the stages of change of the transtheoretical model (TTM) for weight management.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial in Brazilian PHC offered free physical exercise and nutrition education. The participants were women, aged 20 years or older who were obese or overweight, users in PHC service. The intervention group (IG, n = 51) received the same orientation as the comparison group (CG, n = 35) plus individual health counseling based on the TTM aimed at weight loss, which lasted 6 months. The outcome measures were anthropometric, food, and nutrient profiles. Inflammatory parameters were evaluated in a random subsample. The inter-group and intra-group differences were evaluated using interntion-to-treat analysis, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) used to assess intervention effectiveness.ResultsThere was a difference between groups of − 1.4 kg (CI95%: − 2.5; − 0.3) in body weight after the intervention. About 97% of women in the IG reported benefits of the intervention and presented positive changes in diet, biochemical markers, and anthropometry. The IG showed better body mass index, resistine, and blood glucose results compared to the CG during follow-up.ConclusionThe individualized TTM-based intervention, combined with usual care, was an effective strategy in PHC. These results should encourage the use of interdisciplinary practices; nevertheless, research to identify additional strategies is needed to address barriers to weight maintenance among obese low-income women.Trial registrationThe trial is registered with Brazilian clinical trials under the code: RBR-8t7ssv, Registration date: 12/12/2017 (retrospectively registered).

Highlights

Given the current worldwide epidemic of obesity, there is a demand for interventions with higher impact, such as those carried out in the primary health care (PHC) setting
Considering the positive results already observed through the transtheoretical model (TTM) for weight loss and the lack of interventions to weight loss in the PHC context, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of an individualized intervention based on the TTM for the weight management of overweight and obese women in a Brazilian PHC service
Of the 86 eligible women enrolled at the beginning of the study, 58 completed the 6-month intervention: 24 women in the comparison group (CG) (31.4% of attrition) and 34 in the intervention group (IG) (33.3% of attrition) (p = 0.85) (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Given the current worldwide epidemic of obesity, there is a demand for interventions with higher impact, such as those carried out in the primary health care (PHC) setting. We evaluate the effect of intervention performed according to the stages of change of the transtheoretical model (TTM) for weight management. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults in the world were overweight, and 13% were obese [1]. These conditions increase individuals’ risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCD), affect their quality of life, and reduce life expectancy [2]. Higher-impact interventions involving the community or most of the overweight population, such as those carried out in the primary health care (PHC) setting, are needed [4]

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