Motivational Interviewing for Overweight and Obese Adults at Healthy Life Centers

Overview

Overweight and obesity are major public health problems associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Motivational interviewing is a patient-centered counseling approach that may improve lifestyle behaviors and weight management. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of motivational interviewing on anthropometric measurements, eHealth literacy, and healthy eating attitudes among overweight and obese adults attending Healthy Life Centers in Sakarya, Türkiye. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a motivational interviewing intervention group or a routine nutrition counseling control group. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention.

Overweight and obesity are increasing worldwide and contribute substantially to chronic diseases, reduced quality of life, and healthcare costs. Although lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone of obesity management, long-term adherence to healthy eating and physical activity recommendations remains challenging. Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based behavioral counseling method designed to strengthen an individual's motivation and commitment to behavior change. This study is a single-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial conducted in Healthy Life Centers affiliated with the Sakarya Provincial Health Directorate in Türkiye. Eligible adults with overweight or obesity will be randomly allocated to either an intervention group receiving four structured motivational interviewing sessions in addition to routine nutrition counseling or a control group receiving routine nutrition counseling alone. Anthropometric measurements, including body weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio, will be collected. Participants will also complete the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) and the Healthy Eating Attitude Scale before and after the intervention. The primary objective is to determine whether motivational interviewing improves anthropometric outcomes compared with routine care. Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in eHealth literacy and healthy eating attitudes. Findings from this study may contribute to the development of evidence-based behavioral interventions for overweight and obesity management in primary healthcare settings.