Effectiveness of extended contact interventions for weight management delivered via text messaging: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Evidence from the small number of studies reviewed suggests that extended contact, text message-delivered interventions are effective. Further research is required to elucidate effective intervention components and the longer-term impact on weight, diet and physical activity behaviour.

A systematic review with meta‐analyses of text message‐delivered behaviour change interventions for weight loss and weight loss maintenance

“…Three studies showed significant weight effects at 12 months (−2.03 kg, 95% CI −3.66, −0.40 kg), suggesting that significant long‐term net weight loss is possible despite some likely weight regain. Moreover, similar to a previous review, SMS were found to have small effects on weight loss maintenance following weight loss induced through non SMS‐delivered interventions, but this effect did not last.…”

“…The findings of this review underline evidence suggesting that SMS‐delivered behaviour change interventions can support significant small to medium weight loss . Weight loss effects reported here are comparable in magnitude to other reviews that include a SMS within multicomponent mHealth interventions .…”

“…This review also found that personal contact and more frequent interactions (one to four interactions per day) were associated with greater weight reduction. An additional systematic review of SMS‐delivered weight maintenance interventions reported a weighted effect size of −0.82 kg (95% CI −1.43 to −0.21 kg) based on three studies, suggesting potential for SMS to support weight loss maintenance following weight loss. Another systematic review of mobile phone delivered weight management interventions on weight change in adults with obesity found a weighted effect size of −2.35 kg (95% CI, −2.84 to −1.87 kg) based on 20 studies .…”

Get Healthy, Stay Healthy: Evaluation of the Maintenance of Lifestyle Changes Six Months After an Extended Contact Intervention (Preprint)

“…This has led to a concerted focus on weight loss maintenance interventions, defined in the current literature as 'extended contact' interventions -the intervention that continues after initial weight loss intervention, typically at a comparatively lower intensity than the initial intensive phase of intervention. Extended contact interventions have been consistently shown to somewhat mitigate the relapse effect [4][5][6]. What is not known is whether extended contact helps mitigate weight regain in the longer-term, or whether it simply delays weight regain until after the extended intervention contact ceases.…”

The Impact of a Maternal Education Program Through Text Messaging in Rural China: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

“…In recent years, attempts have been made to use mobile phone text messaging to achieve positive results for a range of health issues including treatment management and adherence (3)(4)(5), quality of life and well-being assessment (6), weight management (7,8), suicide prevention (9), smoking cessation (10), and other public health issues (11,12). Attempts have also been made to use mobile phone text messaging to address issues related to maternal and child health including interventions to support post-abortion contraception (13), infertility treatment (14), lactation management (15), and infant feeding (16).…”