Exploring Social Workers' Use of the Socioecological Model as an Intervention and Research Framework for Treating Overweight or Obese Clients

The purpose of this study was to identify the empirical contribution made by the social work profession in the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity. The constructs of the socioecological model of health, which suggest that there are multiple levels of influence on individual behaviors, were used as a conceptual framework to synthesize studies authored by social work researchers investigating overweight and obesity risk factors. A review of obesity-related research written by social workers published over an unrestricted time was conducted. The author found 51 articles in published peer-review journals written by social workers from 1993 to 2013. The reviewed studies included participants living in the United States, China, Israel, and Australia. Findings indicate that the majority of research conducted by social workers address overweight and obesity treatment and consequences at the individual level, and there is little on how social workers plan to address this issue from community-level or policy-related perspectives. This review is the first comprehensive study of social workers' empirical coverage of varying levels of influences affecting obesity. Practice and policy implications are discussed for social work professionals employed in community settings.