Menopause and weight loss (ME-WEL) randomised controlled trial: an e-health cognitive-behavioural group intervention for weight management in postmenopausal women.
Mafalda Leitão, Faustino Pérez-López, João Marôco et al.
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In 30 seconds
The ME-WEL randomised controlled trial assessed an 8-week e-health cognitive-behavioural group intervention for weight management in postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity. Twenty-seven participants were allocated to the intervention (13) or an informative-leaflet control (14), with five longitudinal assessments and intention-to-treat analysis. Some weight-management strategies and measures of subjective well-being increased over time in the intervention group. Emotional and uncontrolled eating decreased, while self-esteem and health-related determinants increased. The abstract reports changes in these measures but does not provide effect sizes or a quantitative between-group weight-loss result.
Key findings
- The trial included 27 participants: 13 received the 8-week intervention and 14 received an informative leaflet.
- Energy compensation and regulation through rule setting increased significantly over time in the intervention group.
- Positive affect and life satisfaction increased; emotional and uncontrolled eating decreased in the intervention group.
- Self-esteem and health-related determinants increased, although some intervention effects were sustained longer than others.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that an e-health group programme may influence eating behaviours, weight-management strategies and well-being in postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity. These outcomes are relevant to weight management beyond body weight alone. However, the small trial and the abstract’s lack of quantified weight-loss results mean the findings should be interpreted as preliminary rather than evidence of established clinical effectiveness.
What to keep in mind
The trial was small, with 27 participants. BMI was calculated from self-reported weight and height, and the abstract does not report a quantitative weight-loss result.