Obesity is a complex disease that, like COVID-19, has reached pandemic proportions. Consequently, it has become a rapidly growing scientific field, represented by an extensive body of research publications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to present the research trends in the scientific literature on motivation and weight loss. Because traditional knowledge synthesis approaches are not appropriate for analyzing large corpora of research evidence, we utilized a novel knowledge synthesis approach called synthetic knowledge synthesis (SKS) to generate new holistic insights into obesity research focusing on motivation. SKS is a triangulation of bibliometric analysis, bibliometric mapping, and content analysis. Using it, we analyzed the corpus of publications retrieved from the Scopus database, using the search string TITLE-ABS-KEY((obesity or overweight) and “weight loss” and motiv*) in titles, keywords, and abstracts, without any additional inclusion or exclusion criteria. The search resulted in a corpus of 2301 publications. The United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Australia were the most productive countries. Four themes emerged, namely, weight loss and weight-loss maintenance through motivational interventions, lifestyle changes supported by smart ICT, maintaining sustainable weight with a healthier lifestyle, and weight management on the level of primary healthcare and bariatric surgery. Further, we established that the volume of research literature is growing, as is the scope of the research. However, we observed a regional concentration of research and its funding in developed countries and almost nonexistent research cooperation between developed and less-developed countries.

BACKGROUND: An individual's decision to maintain weight is not enough without a strong motivational reason. Reasons to improve health, change body image, increase self-confidence, feel good, be more active and have a social life help to focus and motivate a healthy lifestyle. AIM: The aim of this study is to identify personal, social and environmental factors that influence the motivation to maintain a reduced weight among participants in healthy weight loss workshops. METHODS: A quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental method of empirical research was used. The measurement instrument employed was a questionnaire that was completed by 160 participants of healthy weight loss workshops. For statistical analysis we used the binomial test to analyze whether the results matched the defined expectations and the Mann-Whitney U test to analyze the importance of individual factors in motivation for weight maintenance. RESULTS: Healthy weight loss workshop facilitators found that weight loss and appearance improvement (x̄ = 4.4), desire for a changed, more beautiful body image (x̄ = 4.3), concern for well-being (x̄ = 4.2), concern for health and low self-esteem (x̄ = 4.2) were the most prevalent reasons for participation among workshop participants. They also note that there is a need for individualized weight loss maintenance plans (p<0.001) and for the inclusion of additional content to motivate weight maintenance in healthy weight loss programs (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Participants of healthy weight loss workshops are aware of the adoption of a healthy lifestyle for weight management and maintenance after the completion of healthy weight loss workshops, which is largely dependent on personal, social and environmental factors.

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), in which the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin to naturally control blood sugar, can be a major problem for the patient in terms of disease management. Closed-loop hybrid systems are designed...

BACKGROUND: In Slovenia, we run a preventive healthy weight loss programme for the adult population, which has been running healthy weight loss workshops since 2002. It focuses on the management of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and also includes health education. In the Healthy Weight Loss Programme, participants receive professional support and assistance with weight loss, knowledge and skills to change their diet and exercise habits, and psychological support in the process of losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. AIM: The aim of the study is to analyse the perceptions of healthy weight loss workshop providers on the quality of healthy weight loss workshops. METHODS: A quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental method of empirical research was used. The measurement instrument employed was a questionnaire that was completed by 144 healthy weight loss workshop participants. For statistical analysis we used the binomial test to analyse whether the results matched the defined expectations and the Mann-Whitney U test to analyse the importance of individual factors in motivation for weight maintenance. RESULTS: Healthy weight loss workshop facilitators found that weight loss and appearance improvement (x̄ = 4.4), desire for a changed, more beautiful body image (x̄ = 4.3), concern for well-being (x̄ = 4.2), concern for health and low self-esteem (x̄ = 4.2) were the most prevalent reasons for participation among workshop participants. They also note that there is a need for individualised weight loss maintenance plans (p<0.001) and for the inclusion of additional content to motivate weight maintenance in healthy weight loss programmes (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Healthy weight loss workshop facilitators support the continuous follow-up of participants, as they are aware that weight management and maintenance after healthy weight loss workshops is about participants adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes knowledge of nutrition and exercise, a positive attitude towards change and the right kind of motivation.