Table 1 Characteristics of the included studies

Aas, 2005 [32]

Norway

Overweight patients with T2DM

38 (63%)

57 ± 6

14 x group education sessions;

2 x counselling sessions over 12 months, delivered in person;

Group exercise sessions delivered twice a week

Not stated

Goal setting

12 months

12 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement

Ahmadi, 2020 [33]

Germany & Denmark

Patients with cerebrovascular disease

2098 (33%)

67 ± 10

8 x individual counselling sessions over 24 months, delivered in person

MI

Feedback on behaviour;

Feedback on outcome

2 years

3 years

Anthropometric: NS;

Physical Activity: Self-reported

Alsaleh, 2016 [28]

Jordan

Patients with CVD

156 (53%)

58 ± 9

6 × 15–20 min counselling sessions over 6 months delivered via telephone;

Educational text messages were provided 2 per week for first 3 months, and 1 per week for last 3 months

Social Cognitive Theory; Self-Efficacy

Theory

Feedback;

Goal setting;

Self-monitoring; MI techniques

6 months

9 months

Anthropometric: NS;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using IPAQ

Altenburg, 2014 [58]

Netherlands

Patients with COPD

155 (65%)

62 ± 4

5 × 30 min counselling sessions over 12 weeks delivered in person

Goal setting and task performance

Goal setting;

MI techniques

3 months

15 months

Physical Activity: Pedometer

Barrett, 2018 [34]

Australia

Insufficiently physically active adults

72 (25%)

53 ± 8

1 x group education session;

8 × 30-min individual sessions over 12 weeks, delivered via telephone

Integrated MI and CBT

Goal setting, action planning, self-monitoring, personal feedback; relapse prevention

3 months

6 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Actigraph Accelerometer

Cakir, 2006 [35]

Turkey

Patients with hypertension

70 (58%)

52 ± 8

1 × 30-min group lecture;

4 × 60-min group education classes;

4 x individual counselling sessions, delivered in person

Not stated

Education;

Stress management;

Coping strategies

3 months

6 months

Anthropometric: NS;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile.

Carrasquillo, 2017 [36]

USA

Latinos with T2DM

300 (45%)

55 ± 7

4 x individual counselling sessions over 12 months, delivered in person;

12 x individual counselling sessions over 12 months, delivered via telephone;

Intervention participants were invited to monthly educational groups and bimonthly exercise groups in parks located within a convenient proximity to their homes.

Not stated

MI skills; Education

12 months

12 months

Anthropometric: NS;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using IPAQ

Cheung, 2019 [37]

Australia

Post-partum women with GD

60 (0%)

34 ± 4

2 × 30 min individual counselling sessions over 6 months, delivered in person;

1 x follow-up session, up to 12-weeks post-partum, delivered via phone

Focused on the adoption phase of behaviour change

Not stated

6 months

6 months

Anthropometric: Self-reported;

Physical Activity: Fitbit

Dogru, 2019 [59]

Turkey

Patients with T2DM

60 (32%)

NS

4 × 15-20 m individual counselling sessions, delivered once a month for 4-months via telephone

MI

MI techniques

4 months

4 months

Anthropometric: Self-reported

Duscha, 2018 [38]

USA

Patients with CVD

25 (76%)

64 ± 8

24 × 30–60 min telephone coaching sessions over 12 weeks delivered in person;

In addition, coaches sent educational material via email and sent text messages to remind them to practice healthy lifestyle habits.

Health Coaching

Planning; Motivation

3 months

3 months

Physical Activity: Fitbit

Elkoustaf, 2019 [39]

USA

Patients with CVD

79 (57%)

66 ± 9

1 x groups introduction session;

18 x group sessions over 6 months;

1:1 individual coaching sessions, delivered via phone (unspecified number)

Wellness coaching

Not stated

9 months

9 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Objective functional measurement

Fappa, 2012 [40]

Greece

Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

87 (42%)

49 ± 12

7 × 60-min counselling sessions over 6 months, delivered in person

Goal setting theory

Self-monitoring; Problem-solving techniques; Relapse prevention

6 months

6 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using Harokopio PA Questionnaire

Freedland, 2015 [41]

USA

Patients with CVD

158 (54%)

56 ± 11

1 × 60-min counselling sessions weekly for the first 6 months, delivered in person;

4 × 30-min counselling sessions in the final 6 months, delivered via phone

CBT

Problem-solving; Goal setting

12 months

12 months

Physical Activity: Objective functional measures

Gade, 2014 [42]

Norway

Patients who were morbidly obese

102 (68%)

43 ± 10

4 x individual counselling session over 10 weeks delivered in person;

6 x individual counselling session over 10 weeks delivered via telephone

CBT

Psychoeducation; Homework; Self-monitoring; Relapse prevention

10 weeks

3 months

Anthropometric: NS

Goedendorp, 2010 [43]

Netherlands

Patients with cancer undergoing curative treatment

240 (34%)

57 ± 11

10 × 60-min counselling sessions over 6 months, delivered in person

CBT

Restructuring of cognitions and beliefs; education;

Behavioural instructions

6 months

6 months

Physical Activity: Actometer

Goodwin, 2014 [44]

Canada & USA

Overweight postmenopausal women

338 (0%)

61 ± 7

19 × 30-60 m coaching sessions over 2 years delivered via telephone

Not stated

Lifestyle coaching;

Motivation;

Relapse prevention;

Overcoming barriers

24 months

24 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using IPAQ

Harting, 2006 [45]

Netherlands

Patients with CVD risk

1270 (69%)

61 ± 9

6 × 30–45 min counselling sessions over 4 months, delivered in person

Health Counselling based on

stage of behavioural change

Not stated

4 months

18 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using a ‘short validated survey’

Ijzelenberg, 2012 [46]

Netherlands

Patients with CVD

146 (77%)

60 ± 11

22 x group exercise sessions over 6 months;

3 x individual exercise sessions over 6 months;

7 x group counselling sessions over 6 months;

Individually counselling sessions over 6 months, delivered in person (unspecified number)

Lifestyle counselling

Motivation; Goal setting; Stress management

6 months

6 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using the SQUASH survey

Kim, 2019 [47]

Korea

Women at risk of CVD

58 (0%)

57 ± 6

12 x individual counselling session over 3 months, delivered in person;

1 x education text message delivered weekly for 3 months

Theory of planned behaviour; Theory of self-regulation

Education; goal setting, self-monitoring; feedback

3 months

3 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using the IPAQ

Kirk, 2004 [48]

UK

Inactive patients with T2DM

70 (50%)

58 ± 8

2 × 30-min individual counselling sessions over 9 months delivered in person;

4 x individual counselling sessions over 9 months delivered via telephone

Transtheoretical model

Problem solving; Social

support; Goal setting

9 months

12 months

Physical Activity: Self-reported

Kosaka, 2005 [49]

Japan

Men with IGT

458 (100%)

NS

6 x individual counselling sessions over 12 months, delivered in person

Not stated

Education; Self-monitoring; Social support

12 months

48 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement.

Lear, 2003 [50]

Canada

Patients with CVD

302 (82%)

64 ± 9

6 x group exercise sessions over 12 months;

2 x lifestyle and risk-factor assessments;

6 x individual counselling sessions over 12 months, delivered in person

Counselling based on principles of behavioural change

Feedback (outcomes); Counsel on lifestyle behaviours and risk

factors

12 months

12 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using MLTPA questionnaire.

Miura, 2004 [51]

Japan

Patients with HTN

57 (51%)

62 ± 10

6 x individual counselling sessions over 6 months, delivered in person

Behaviour theory; Social cognitive theory

Not stated

6 months

6 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Actigraph Accelerometer

O’Brien, 2018 [52]

Australia

Overweight patients with OA

120 (36%)

62 ± 12

1 x brief group education session;

10 x individual counselling session over 6-months, delivered in person

MI;

Self-regulation principles

Problem solving; Goal setting

6 months

6 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using AAS

Oldroyd, 2006 [53]

UK

Patients with IGT

78 (50%)

58 ± 10

12 × 15–20 min individual counselling sessions over 24 months, delivered in person

Stages of change model of

behaviour change

MI techniques; Action planning; Goal setting

24 months

24 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using a ‘lifestyle questionnaire’

Rimmer, 2009 [54]

USA

Women with morbid obesity & mobility issues

92 (0%)

59 ± 11

1 x individual counselling sessions each week over 6 months, delivered in person;

Option to attend a monthly exercise support group.

Not stated

Goal Setting;

Performance feedback; Overcoming barriers

6 months

6 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using a ‘lifestyle questionnaire’

Sone, 2010 [55]

Japan

Patients with T2DM

2033 (47%)

59 ± 7

1 x group education session;

2 × 15-min individual counselling session monthly over 96 months, delivered in person

Not stated

Feedback on behaviour; Feedback on outcomes

96 months

96 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using a ‘lifestyle questionnaire’

Wattanakorn, 2013 [56]

Thailand

Patients with T2DM and obesity

76 (16%)

50 ± 8

4 × 30–45 min individual counselling sessions over 1 month, delivered in person

MI;

Self-regulation theory.

Education; Goal setting; Discrepancy between current behaviour and goal

1 month

4 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using the Seven Day PA Recall survey

Williams, 2018 [57]

Australia

Overweight patients with chronic LBP

159 (41%)

57 ± 13

10 x individual counselling sessions over 6 months, delivered via telephone

SDT;

Setting graded tasks;

Setting specific behaviour goals;

Barrier identification

Prompting self-monitoring of behaviour and outcomes

6 months

6 months

Anthropometric: Objective measurement;

Physical Activity: Self-reported using the AAS