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Privacy Concerns in Group Format Lifestyle Interventions for Obesity

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Abstract

Background

Group format weight loss interventions have benefits over individual format, but privacy concerns may limit their uptake.

Method

In this study, adults with obesity and interest in losing weight were recruited nationally online and randomly assigned to view one of eight videos describing a hypothetical, group behavioral weight loss intervention. Based on three fully crossed factors, the videos varied on privacy features of intervention (present or not); matching participants to group based on weight loss barriers (matched or not); and intervention format (online or in-person). Participants rated their willingness to join, privacy concerns, and perceived effectiveness of these interventions. They further reported preference for individual or group format interventions and reason for preferences.

Results

Description of privacy features, matching of participants, and format did not affect willingness to join, privacy concerns, or perceived effectiveness of the intervention. Privacy concerns were associated with lower willingness to join and lower perceived intervention effectiveness, and greater social anxiety and weight stigma. More participants preferred individual over group format (40.1% vs 33.9%; 26% selected neither) and preference for individual format was associated with greater privacy concerns.

Conclusion

Strategies to address privacy concerns in group-based interventions warrant further attention.

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Funding

This work was supported in part by funds provided by the University of Florida College of Health and Human Performance (to Dr. McVay) and National Science Foundation grant DMS2002865 (to Dr. Lou).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Education and Behavior, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118210, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Megan A. McVay & Danielle E. Jake-Schoffman

  2. Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions & College of Medicine, University of Florida, University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, USA

    Man Chong Leong & XiangYang Lou

Authors
  1. Megan A. McVay
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  2. Danielle E. Jake-Schoffman
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  3. Man Chong Leong
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Correspondence to Megan A. McVay.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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McVay, M.A., Jake-Schoffman, D.E., Leong, M.C. et al. Privacy Concerns in Group Format Lifestyle Interventions for Obesity. Int.J. Behav. Med. 30, 693–704 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-022-10134-1

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