Are There Any Effective Behavior Change Strategies for Communicating Genetic Risk in Obesity Prevention and Body Weight Reduction Interventions?
Szczuka, Zofia Krzywicka, Paulina Kornafel, Anna Misiakowska, Jowita Zaleskiewicz, Hanna Kafyra, Maria Kalafati, Ioanna Panagiota Dedoussis, George Luszczynska, Aleksandra consortium, the BETTER4U project
Szczuka, Zofia
Krzywicka, Paulina
Kornafel, Anna
Misiakowska, Jowita
Zaleskiewicz, Hanna
Kafyra, Maria
Kalafati, Ioanna Panagiota
Dedoussis, George
Luszczynska, Aleksandra
consortium, the BETTER4U project
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Computational Biology
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Journal article
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English
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Abstract
This systematic review examined how differences in intervention components may contribute to inconsistent findings in genetic risk communication studies, addressing obesity-related outcomes (e.g., weight reduction, nutrition behavior, exercise). The review was preregistered (PROSPERO #CRD42024524026) and followed PRISMA guidelines. Searches across eight databases identified 23 randomized controlled trials, covering 18 intervention trials. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 tool. A narrative synthesis was used to cluster studies by the content of intervention and control groups. Genetic risk communication alone (no behavioral counseling, addressing nutrition and exercise) or combined with phenotype-based risk was ineffective and sometimes counterproductive among low-risk individuals. When combined with personalized behavioral counseling, effectiveness improved, but only when compared to waitlist control groups or non-personalized behavioral counseling. Significant effects emerged in high-genetic risk subgroups within personalized behavioral counseling, using behavior change techniques such as problem-solving, feedback on behavior, self-monitoring, and environmental changes. The most promising results emerged from complex interventions integrating genetic risk communication into multiple sessions and combining numerous additional behavioral change techniques, such as social reward, cues/prompts, self-reward. Complex personalized interventions combining multiple behavior change techniques and prompting experiential genetic risk awareness show promise for improving weight, nutrition, and exercise-related outcomes.
Citation
Z. Szczuka, P. Krzywicka, A. Kornafel, J. Misiakowska, H. Zaleskiewicz, M. Kafyra , et al., "Are There Any Effective Behavior Change Strategies for Communicating Genetic Risk in Obesity Prevention and Body Weight Reduction Interventions?," Obesity Reviews, pp. e70132-e70132, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.70132.
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Obesity Reviews
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Keywords
42 Health Sciences, 4203 Health Services and Systems, 52 Psychology, 5203 Clinical and Health Psychology, 3 Good Health and Well Being
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Wiley