Systematic review of the effectiveness of family based weight loss interventions compared to non family based/control group interventions at achieving greater weight loss/ dietary and physical activity related behaviour change for mothers with overweight or obesity

A mother’s weight loss is more effective when her children are part of the programme, but the evidence has never been systematically pulled together—this review will do that. Obesity is a major risk factor for several cancers, including breast cancer, yet most weight loss interventions target individuals rather than the family unit. Mothers with childcare responsibilities often struggle to attend separate programmes, and their children’s eating habits are closely tied to their own. This systematic review will search four major databases for randomised controlled trials that compare family-based weight loss interventions—where children participate alongside their mother—against non-family programmes or wait-list controls. Two reviewers will independently screen every title, abstract, and full text, resolving disagreements by consensus. The primary outcome is maternal weight change; secondary outcomes include children’s weight, maternal behaviour change, and family dynamics. If the review confirms that family-based approaches work better, the findings will directly inform a single-arm feasibility study testing a family-based weight loss intervention for breast cancer prevention in mothers. This could shift how the NHS designs weight management services, moving from individual-focused programmes to family-centred ones that fit real household routines.