Evidence mapPaperPMID 42444264Full record

SynthesisObesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity2026

Effectiveness and Feasibility of Interventions for Weight Management of Young Adults in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs): A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

Sujata Shakya, Subas Neupane, Shanti Bajracharya, Pilvikki Absetz

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Sujata ShakyaUnit of Health Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0341-595X
Subas NeupaneUnit of Health Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Shanti BajracharyaNepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Pilvikki AbsetzUnit of Health Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1047-909X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionOverweight and obesity rates are rising globally, including among young adults, posing significant health risks. However, prevention programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are limited, and little is known about their applicability in these settings. This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of overweight and obesity prevention and management interventions among young adults in LMICs.

methodsDatabases, including Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, were systematically searched to identify trials published between 2014 and February 2026. Studies were included if they targeted young adults in LMICs and reported outcomes such as body mass index (BMI) and/or waist circumference. Publications reporting feasibility outcomes were manually searched. A random-effects meta-analysis estimated the mean difference in outcomes by gender and intervention duration. A narrative synthesis complemented the random-effects meta-analysis. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework evaluated the evidence quality.

resultsSixteen intervention studies met inclusion criteria, but none reported on feasibility. Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis on effectiveness. Pooled estimates show that mean BMI (kg/m

conclusionObesity control interventions may benefit young adults in LMICs, but evidence is limited and moderate in quality. Future studies should evaluate feasibility using established implementation frameworks.

Indexed as

Developing CountriesObesityOverweightWeight Reduction ProgramsBody Mass IndexFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansWaist CircumferenceYoung Adultadultseffectivenessfeasibilityweight managementyoung

Identifiers

PMID42444264
PMCPMC13460502

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.