Rathbone Joanne A, Cruwys Tegan, Western Kate A B, Donaldson Jessica L, Haslam Catherine, Rieger Elizabeth, Wheatland Fiona Tito, Dugdale Paul
School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Health Expect. 2025 Apr;28(2):e70192. doi: 10.1111/hex.70192.
People with higher weight are at greater risk of experiencing loneliness and mental ill-health, in part due to challenging social networks that can be unsupportive of efforts to engage in positive health behaviours and a source of weight-based stigma and discrimination. Targeting this issue is a manualised intervention, Groups 4 Health (G4H), that helps people to optimise social connectedness and group-based belonging for effective support to reduce loneliness and mental ill-health. We evaluated the efficacy of this program for people with higher weight.
We conducted a matched controlled trial (non-randomised) with 98 Australian adults with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m (n = 49 in the intervention group). Retention rates at T2 were comparable to previous trials: intervention group n = 33 (67.3%); matched control group n = 36 (73.5%).
Loneliness, well-being, weight-related social support, depression, and eating disorder symptoms were assessed pre-intervention (T0), post-intervention (T1), and at 4-month follow-up (T2).
Among the intervention group, loneliness (d = -0.66, p < 0.001), depression (d = -0.58, p < 0.001), and eating disorder symptoms (d = -0.77, p < 0.001) all significantly decreased from T0 to T2. Similarly, well-being (d = 0.80, p < 0.001) and experiences of effective weight-related social support (d = 0.68, p < 0.001) significantly increased from T0 to T2. These positive changes were not observed in the matched control group.
The findings provide strong preliminary support for the efficacy of G4H among people with higher weight to address loneliness and challenging social networks, which pose key psychosocial barriers to health.
The Groups 4 Health program has previously undergone a published codesign and consumer feedback process. The materials for this study were co-produced with a member of the research team with lived experience to ensure that the content was non-stigmatising and relevant to the population of the study. The research team member is a representative of a consumer advocacy association, and contributed to the study design, data collection, interpretation of results, and manuscript revisions.
体重较大的人群更容易感到孤独和出现心理健康问题，部分原因在于他们的社交网络存在挑战，这些社交网络可能不利于他们践行积极的健康行为，而且还是体重歧视和偏见的源头。针对这一问题的是一项名为“健康小组”（G4H）的标准化干预措施，该措施旨在帮助人们优化社交联系和群体归属感，从而获得有效支持，以减少孤独感和心理健康问题。我们评估了该项目对体重较大人群的疗效。
我们对98名体重指数（BMI）≥30kg/m²的澳大利亚成年人进行了一项匹配对照试验（非随机）（干预组n = 49）。T2阶段的留存率与之前的试验相当：干预组n = 33（67.3%）；匹配对照组n = 36（73.5%）。
在干预前（T0）、干预后（T1）以及4个月随访期（T2）对孤独感、幸福感、与体重相关的社会支持、抑郁和饮食失调症状进行了评估。
在干预组中，从T0到T2，孤独感（d = -0.66，p < 0.001）、抑郁（d = -0.58，p < 0.001）和饮食失调症状（d = -0.77，p < 0.001）均显著降低。同样，从T0到T2，幸福感（d = 0.80，p < 0.001）以及与体重相关的有效社会支持体验（d = 0.68，p < 0.001）显著增加。在匹配对照组中未观察到这些积极变化。
研究结果为G4H对体重较大人群解决孤独感和具有挑战性的社交网络问题的疗效提供了有力的初步支持，这些社交网络是健康的关键社会心理障碍。
“健康小组”项目此前已经历了公开的联合设计和消费者反馈过程。本研究的材料是与一名有实际经验的研究团队成员共同制作的，以确保内容不存在污名化且与研究人群相关。该研究团队成员是一个消费者权益倡导协会的代表，参与了研究设计、数据收集、结果解读和稿件修订工作。
