Beyond the “I” in the Obesity Epidemic: A Review of Social Relational and Network Interventions on Obesity

Table 1

Comprehensive overview of intervention studies found pertaining to social relational constructs and obesity.

Article	Social relational constructs			Theory	Social ecological level targeted	Conceptual pathway placement of SRC
	Type	Modality	Measure
Lubans et al., 2012 [31]	Social support	Text messages	—	Social cognitive theory	Individual/; interpersonal	Resource
Angelopoulos et al.,; 2009 [32]	Social support	Student workbook and teacher manual including motivational method and strategies (change social influence through modeling,; mobilizing social support)	—	Theory of planned behavior	Individual/; interpersonal/; organizational	Resource
Peterson and Ward-Smith, 2012 [33]	Social support	Community-based obesity support group	Social support questionnaire	Transtheoretical model, social comparison theory, and social support	Individual	Channel
Gellert et al., 2010 [34]	Social support	Support group	—	Stage-of-change model	Individual	Resource
Kushner et al., 2006 [35]	Social support	Cohesiveness between owners and pets	Social support and readiness questionnaire	Social learning theory	Individual/; interpersonal	Target
Rimmer et al., 2009 [36]	Social support	Professional advice, brochure information, PA device, telephone consultation, and monthly exercise support group	—	—	Individual	Channel
Stolley et al., 2009 [37]	Social support	Activities to promote group cohesion (ice breaker, potluck dinners, outside activities, and inclusion of friends and family)	Social support for eating and exercise questionnaire	Social cognitive theory, health belief model	Individual	Resource
Hemmingsson et al., 2008 [38]	Social support	PA behavior change booklet, care at obesity unit, and group sessions	—	Transtheoretical model	Individual	Channel
Gold et al., 2007 [48]	Social support	Behaviour therapy with social support lesson; group support	Perceived social support scale	—	Individual	Channel
Anderson et al., 2005 [39]	Social support	Proposed mediator for changes in HRQOL	Family social support (Sallis)	Social cognitive theory	Individual	Resource
Gallagher et al., 2006 [40]	Social support	Group sessions (behavioral strategies to elicit social support)	Behavioural processes subscale	Social cognitive theory	Individual	Resource
Pettman et al., 2008 [41]	Social support	Peer group setting incorporating self-management programs, establishing peer support networks; information, shared experiences, and outside interaction	—	Theory of planned behaviour	Individual	Channel
Kiernan et al., 2012 [42]	Social support	Friend and family support for healthy eating and PA	Support subscales and sabotage subscales; general supportive and strained interactions with family and friends subscales; qualitative question on social support	Social support measurement	Individual	Resource
Kalodner and DeLucia, 1999 [43]	Social support	Classmate interaction to facilitate social cohesion and support	—	Behaviour change	Individual	Resource
Casazza and Ciccazzo, 2007 [44]	Social support	Computer-based education; in-person lecture and pamphlets	Social support survey	—	Individual	Resource
Hajek et al., 2010 [45]	Social support	Interactive group sessions (group support components, cohesive and productive environment)	Client feedback questionnaire includes “group support” as potential component participants found most useful	—	Individual	Channel
Yancey et al., 2006 [46]	Social support	Inclusion of close friend or relative	—	Social ecological models	Individual/; interpersonal	Resource
Cousins et al., 1992 [47]	Social support	Emphasized family-oriented approach to health behaviors; manual, inclusion of spouses, and group support	—	—	Individual/; interpersonal	Resource
Williamson et al., 2012 [50]	Social support	Classroom/internet program	Children's dietary social support scale	—	Individual/; organizational	Resource
Leblanc et al., 2012 [49]	Social support	Structural social support provided by group used in control arm of trial	—	Health at every size (health-centered approach)	Individual	Channel
Bjelland et al., 2011 [21]	(i) Social support; (ii) social capital	Classmate interaction to facilitate social cohesion and support	(i) Perceived social support from parents, friends, and teachers; (ii) related to people in my area/neighborhood: quality of relationship with peers at school (in + out of classroom)	Social-ecological model	Individual/; organizational	Resource
Lee et al., 2012 [22]	Group cohesion, social support	Intervention group (shared goal, working on team activities, assigning team roles, encouraged to contact each other outside of intervention sessions)	Physical activity group environment questionnaire; social support for eating habits survey	Behavior change; self-efficacy, stage-of-change, and social support	Individual	Channel
De Niet et al., 2011 [23]	Family cohesion	Treatment team (psychologist, dietician, pediatrician, and physiotherapist) led information sessions for parents	Family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scales (FACES) III	Social learning theory	Individual/; interpersonal	Resource
Leahey et al., 2011 [24]	Social cohesion	Participation in group contingent on weight loss	Perceived cohesion scale	—	Individual	Resource
Kim et al., 2004 [25]	Social networks	Participant recruitment through lay health advisors social networks	—	Community-based participatory research	Individual	Channel
Leahey et al., 2012 [26]	Social networks	Media, newsletters, motivational and educational activities, online log, and encouraged team support	Reported social influence for weight loss	Social influence, social learning theory, and social modeling	Individual	Resource
Gorin et al., 2008 [27]	Social networks	Instructional sessions to enhance social support for weight loss efforts	—	—	Individual	Channel
Ashida et al., 2012 [28]	Social networks	Indentified encouragers for dietary behavior	Social influence (enumerated social network members who “played significant role in life during past year” and “have encouraged you to eat more FVs/do PA”)	Social influence	Individual/; interpersonal	Resource
Shaw-Perry et al., 2007 [29]	Social networks	Organized health programming sessions transmitted to children through social structures (home, health class, school cafeteria, and after school)	—	—	Individual/; organizational	Channel
Gessell et al., 2012 [30]	Social networks	Social network evolution over duration of intervention	Social network survey developed to assess changes in social relationships	Social network, social support	Individual/; interpersonal	Target