Comparison of Education-Only versus Group-Based Intervention in Promoting Weight Loss: A Randomised Controlled Trial

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Aim: To compare the effectiveness of education-only versus group-based intervention in promoting weight loss. Methods: Between April and October 2009, a 6-month randomised controlled trial was conducted at Mito Kyodo General Hospital in Japan (UMIN000001259). The participants were 188 overweight adults (145 women, 43 men) aged 40–65 years. They were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control, moderate or intensive intervention. A single motivational lecture was provided to all three groups, educational materials (textbooks, notebooks, and a pedometer) to the moderate and intensive intervention groups, and group-based support to the intensive intervention group. Amount of weight loss was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures were components of metabolic syndrome. Results: Mean ( SD weight loss of participants in the control, moderate and intensive intervention groups was 2.9 ( 4.1, 4.7 ( 4.0 and 7.7 ( 4.1 kg, respectively. Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons revealed all between-group differences to be significant (p < 0.05). Waist circumference decreased in the intensive intervention group more than in the other groups, whereas no significant differences were observed in the other secondary outcome measures. Conclusion: Education-only intervention is a cost-effective method to promote weight loss. Adding group-based intervention further promotes weight loss.