Systematic review and meta‐analysis of internet‐delivered interventions providing personalized feedback for weight loss in overweight and obese adults

Abstract

SummaryBackgroundObesity levels continue to rise annually. Face‐to‐face weight loss consultations have previously identified mixed effectiveness and face high demand with limited resources. Therefore, alternative interventions, such as internet‐delivered interventions, warrant further investigation. The aim was to assess whether internet‐delivered weight loss interventions providing personalized feedback were more effective for weight loss in overweight and obese adults in comparison with control groups receiving no personalized feedback.MethodNine databases were searched, and 12 studies were identified that met all inclusion criteria.ResultsMeta‐analysis, identified participants receiving personalized feedback via internet‐delivered interventions, had 2.13 kg mean difference (SMD) greater weight loss (and BMI change, waist circumference change and 5% weight loss) in comparison with control groups providing no personalized feedback. This was also true for results at 3 and 6‐month time points but not for studies where interventions lasted ≥12 months.ConclusionThis suggests that personalized feedback may be an important behaviour change technique (BCT) to incorporate within internet‐delivered weight loss interventions. However, meta‐analysis results revealed no differences between internet‐delivered weight loss interventions with personalized feedback and control interventions ≥12 months. Further investigation into longer term internet‐delivered interventions is required to examine how weight loss could be maintained. Future research examining which BCTs are most effective for internet‐delivered weight loss interventions is suggested.

Weight loss and frequency of body‐weight self‐monitoring in an online commercial weight management program with and without a cellular‐connected ‘smart’ scale: a randomized pilot study

“…. Reviews and meta‐analyses show that such mean weight losses of 5–6 kg are the most that are typically achieved via automated online programs developed by researchers and commercial providers .…”

“…Nevertheless, the average weight loss produced by WWO-E (over 5 kg) was similar to that observed in Steinberg et al (14). Reviews and meta-analyses show that such mean weight losses of 5-6 kg are the most that are typically achieved via automated online programs developed by researchers and commercial providers (2)(3)(4)(5).…”

Understanding and Promoting Effective Engagement With Digital Behavior Change Interventions

“…For example, the Behavioral Intervention Technology model 7 builds on and integrates several other relevant models, [8][9][10][11] providing a framework for articulat-ing the relationship among the behavioral intervention 16 what features of computerized clinical decision support systems are effective, 17 and the importance of feedback in weight management DBCIs. 18 User engagement is also supported, undermined, or shaped by socio-contextual influences, such as the role played by family members and the broader cultural setting. Comprehensive models of engagement need to encompass not only individuallevel user dimensions but also the effects-positive and negative-of social dimen-sions.…”

Health Behavior Change for Obesity Management

“…[30]). In the context of digital-based interventions for weight management, Hutchesson et al [39] point to the potential beneficial effects of self-monitoring and personalized feedback, and Sherrington and colleagues [40] found that internet-delivered weight loss interventions providing personalized feedback resulted in greater weight loss but only in the short term. …”

“…In the context of weight management in overweight/obese populations, previous reviews have reported positive albeit often small effects with considerable between-study variability [13,39,47]. There is therefore the need to identify which intervention components contribute to the effectiveness of digital-based interventions in promoting sustained weight management [13,39,40]. In a meta-analysis of internet-based interventions for health behavior change looking at the characteristics of most effective interventions, theory-based interventions incorporating a larger number of BCTs (vs. interventions with fewer BCTs) and using a variety of MoDs (e.g.…”