Weight loss among heart attack survivors tends to be more successful if partners join the effort, a new study has found.

"Lifestyle improvement after a heart attack is a crucial part of preventing repeat events. Our study shows that when spouses join the effort to change habits, patients have a better chance of becoming healthier, particularly when it comes to losing weight," commented study author, Lotte Verweij, of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.

A previous study had found that heart attack survivors that have been referred to programmes that aim to reduce weight, increase physical activity and help smokers to quit, are more likely to modify these behaviours compared to people receiving standard care.

This follow-up study investigated whether a partner's involvement in such a lifestyle programme had an impact on behaviour change.

"If partners contribute to adopting healthy habits, it could become an important recommendation to avoid recurrent heart attacks," Ms Verweij noted.

Some 824 patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group, which saw them undertake lifestyle programmes on top of standard care, or a control group, which was standard care alone.

The study focused on the 411 patients in the intervention group, who were referred to up to three lifestyle programmes for weight reduction, physical activity and smoking cessation.

The participants' partners could attend for free and they were encouraged to take part. Almost half (48%) of the partners participated in the lifestyle programmes.

The study found that patients with a participating partner were 2.4 times more likely to improve in at least one of the intervention areas within a year - weight loss, physical activity and smoking cessation - compared to those whose partners did not participate.

When the researchers analysed the three areas separately, the most success was seen in relation to weight loss. Those whose partners took part in weight loss intervention programmes were 2.7 times more likely to lose weight than those whose partners did not take part.

"Patients with partners who joined the weight loss programme lost more weight compared to patients with a partner who did not join the programme.

"Couples often have comparable lifestyles and changing habits is difficult when only one person is making the effort. Practical issues come into play, such as grocery shopping, but also psychological challenges, where a supportive partner may help maintain motivation," Ms Verweij said.

Details of these findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2020, which is being held digitally this year.