Empowerment in Obesity and Behavioral Weight‐Management Programmes: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT In the UK, over 25% of adults are living with obesity, with disproportionately higher rates among Black adults (35%) and those in the most deprived areas (36%). Obesity is linked to increased comorbidity, mortality, stigma, and substantial annual health costs exceeding £11.4 billion. Behavioral weight‐management programmes are the primary intervention recommended for obesity treatment, yet they demonstrate limited effectiveness, inadequate long‐term support, a lack of personalized care and poor cultural relevance. Participatory approaches, that is, bottom‐up strategies engaging communities, are increasingly applied in public health to address social determinants and reduce disparities. Individuals supported to manage their health and access care are considered “empowered”; however, this concept remains ambiguous, lacking clear definition and consistent application. Although global policy promotes empowerment to promote individual health, including weight‐management, no review has explored its role within obesity and weight‐management programmes. This scoping review examined how empowerment has been defined and implemented across behavioral weight‐management programmes. Eleven studies were identified published between 2004 and 2023, revealing poor consensus in their theoretical foundations, definitions, and practical applications of empowerment, with no UK‐based studies. To support conceptual clarity, studies definitions and empowerment‐based processes were consolidated. Further research is needed in UK settings to help define empowerment in this context and to enable effective translation between research, practice, and policy.