Increasing Male Participation in Behavioral Weight-Loss Interventions: A Scoping Review

Despite experiencing higher obesity-related mortality than women, men remain underrepresented in behavioral weight-loss studies. This scoping review examined recruitment strategies and intervention characteristics used to engage men in behavioral weight-loss interventions and identified common features among studies that successfully recruited men compared with those that encountered challenges. Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria and varied in setting, design, and participant characteristics. Recruitment was most successful when interventions were developed through formative research, aligned with men’s identities, values, and priorities, and also clearly communicated these characteristics through recruitment materials. Common design principles included framing participation around health, strength, physical performance, and family responsibility; incorporating meaningful social identities such as sports fandom, fatherhood, or cultural identity; partnering with trusted community organizations; using credible interventionists; fostering social support and accountability; and providing flexible intervention formats. No single recruitment channel consistently outperformed others. Instead, channel effectiveness depended on the target population and intervention context. Passive recruitment methods were generally effective in settings with established social networks, whereas active community outreach was often necessary to engage populations historically underrepresented in behavioral weight-loss research. These findings suggest that improving male representation requires attention to both recruitment approaches and intervention design. Researchers should consider these processes together when developing behavioral weight-loss interventions for men and improve reporting of recruitment methods and outcomes to strengthen future evidence.