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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020;13(2):267-278.
doi: 10.1159/000506813. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

A Single Motivational Lecture Can Promote Modest Weight Loss: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Yoshio Nakata  1 , Hiroyuki Sasai  2 , Takehiko Tsujimoto  3 , Koichi Hashimoto  4 , Hiroyuki Kobayashi  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Single Motivational Lecture Can Promote Modest Weight Loss: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Yoshio Nakata et al. Obes Facts. 2020.

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a public health problem worldwide. To widely disseminate weight-loss interventions across the target population, a cost-effective approach is needed.

Objective: We aimed to test whether a single motivational lecture could promote weight loss.

Methods: Our study was a 3-month randomized controlled trial, and we recruited participants via local newspaper advertisements in 3 cities in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, and randomly assigned them to a control group (no intervention) and an intervention group, who attended a single motivational lecture lasting approximately 2 h. No other lectures or textbooks were provided. The eligibility criteria included an age of 40-64 years, a body mass index (BMI) of 25-40 kg/m2, and the presence of at least 1 component of metabolic syndrome. The primary outcome was body weight change at 3 months.

Results: We enrolled 145 eligible participants with a mean age of 53.8 ± 7.1 years and a BMI of 28.5 ± 3.1 kg/m2. The 3-month body weight change in the control and intervention groups was -0.65 kg (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.09 to -0.20) and -2.48 kg (95% CI -3.01 to -1.95), respectively. The between-group difference was 1.83 kg (95% CI 1.15-2.51).

Conclusions: The significant difference suggested that a single motivational lecture is an effective option to promote modest weight loss in the short term.

Keywords: Body weight changes; Diet; Exercise; Health education; Obesity management.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Participant flowchart. ITT, intention-to-treat.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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