Efficacy of mobile health apps on weight loss: a meta-analysis_Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Authors：

WANG Yutong , ZHANG Rong , WANG Qiang ,  JIN Hui

School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, P.R.China;

Corresponding author：

JIN Hui, Email: jinhui_hld@163.com

Keywords：

mHealth app; Weight loss; Meta-analysis; Systematic review; Randomized controlled trial

DOI：

10.7507/1672-2531.201908056

Video：

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Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Objective To systematically review the efficacy of mobile health (mHealth) apps on weight loss.Methods Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, WanFang Data and CBM databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of mHealth APPs on weight loss from inception to October 18, 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using RevMan 5.3 software.Results A total of 12 RCTs involving 1 074 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the apps group was superior to the control group in body weight (MD=−1.88, 95%CI −3.23 to −0.53, P=0.006). There was a decreasing trend of body mass index (BMI) in apps group (MD=−0.55, 95%CI −1.09 to 0.00, P=0.05).Conclusions Current evidence shows that mHealth app can increase the efficacy of weight loss. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more highquality studies are required to verify above conclusions.

Citation： WANG Yutong, ZHANG Rong, WANG Qiang, JIN Hui. Efficacy of mobile health apps on weight loss: a meta-analysis. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2020, 20(6): 688-694. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.201908056 Copy

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23.	WHO. The report of the World Health Organization. Geneva: WHO, 1999.
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26.	MacLean PS, Wing RR, Davidson T, et al. NIH working group report: Innovative research to improve maintenance of weight loss. Obesity (Silver Spring), 2015, 23(1): 7-15.

1. WHO. Preventing and managing the global epidemic: Report of a WHO consultation on obesity. Geneva WHO, 1998, 15(1): 18-30.
2. 刘俊, 郭毅, 刘晴, 等. 超重、肥胖与 2 型糖尿病相关性的 Meta 分析. 中国循证医学杂志, 2013, 13(2): 190-195.
3. 孔灵芝. 慢性非传染性疾病流行现状、发展趋势及防治策略. 中国慢性病预防与控制, 2002, 10(1): 1-2, 19.
4. WHO. Obesity and overweight. Geneva: WHO, 2015.
5. Ng M, Fleming T, Robinson M. Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980-2013: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2013. Lancet, 2014, 384(9945): 766-781.
6. Wang Y, Xue H, Huang Y, et al. A systematic review of application and effectiveness of mHealth interventions for obesity and diabetes treatment and self-management. Adv Nutr, 2017, 8(3): 449-462.
7. Cipresso P, Serino S, Villani D, et al. Is your phone so smart to affect your state? An exploratory study based on psychophysiological measures. Neurocomputing, 2012, 84(SI): 23-30.
8. Covolo L, Ceretti E, Moneda M, et al. Does evidence support the use of mobile phone apps as a driver for promoting healthy lifestyles from a public health perspective? A systematic review of randomized control trials. Patient Educ Couns, 2017, 100(12): 2231-2243.
9. Zhou BF, Cooperative meta-analysis group of the working group on obesity in China. Predictive values of body mass index and waist circumference for risk factors of certain related diseases in Chinese adults--study on optimal cut-off points of body mass index and waist circumference in Chinese adults. Biomed Environ Sci, 2002, 15(1): 83-96.
10. Higgins JPT, Green S. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions (Version 5. 1. 0). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011. Available at: http://www.cochrane-handbook.org.
11. Carter MC, Burley VJ, Nykjaer C, et al. Adherence to a smartphone application for weight loss compared to website and paper diary: pilot randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res, 2013, 15(4): e32.
12. Allen JK, Stephens J, Dennison Himmelfarb CR, et al. Randomized controlled pilot study testing use of smartphone technology for obesity treatment. J Obes, 2013, 2013: 151597.
13. Hebden L, Cook A, van der Ploeg HP, et al. A mobile health intervention for weight management among young adults: a pilot randomised controlled trial. J Hum Nutr Diet, 2014, 27(4): 322-332.
14. Partridge SR, McGeechan K, Hebden L, et al. Effectiveness of a mHealth lifestyle program with telephone support (TXT2BFiT) to prevent unhealthy weight gain in young adults: randomized controlled trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 2015, 3(2): e66.
15. 焦焕利, 张卿, 宋崑, 等. 应用手机 APP 进行健康减重互动管理的随访实践. 临床荟萃, 2017, 32(5): 400-404.
16. Turner-McGrievy GM, Wilcox S, Boutte A, et al. The dietary intervention to enhance tracking with mobile devices (DIET Mobile) study: A 6-month randomized weight loss trial. Obesity (Silver Spring), 2017, 25(8): 1336-1342.
17. Thomas JG, Raynor HA, Bond DS, et al. Weight loss in weight watchers online with and without an activity tracking device compared to control: A randomized trial. Obesity (Silver Spring), 2017, 25(6): 1014-1021.
18. Spring B, Pellegrini CA, Pfammatter A, et al. Effects of an abbreviated obesity intervention supported by mobile technology: The ENGAGED randomized clinical trial. Obesity (Silver Spring), 2017, 25(7): 1191-1198.
19. Hutchesson MJ, Callister R, Morgan PJ, et al. A targeted and tailored eHealth weight loss program for young women. The Be Positive Be Health Healthcare (Basel), 2018, 6(2): E39.
20. Hurkmans E, Matthys C, Bogaerts A, et al. Face-to-face versus mobile versus blended weight loss program: randomized clinical trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 2018, 6(1): e14.
21. Kliemann N, Croker H, Johnson F, et al. Development of the top tips habit-based weight loss App and preliminary indications of its usage, effectiveness, and acceptability: mixed-methods pilot study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 2019, 7(5): e12326.
22. Apinaniz A, Cobos-Campos R, Saez DLA, et al. Effectiveness of randomized controlled trial of a mobile app to promote healthy lifestyle in obese and overweight patients. Fam Pract, 2019, 36(6): 699-705.
23. WHO. The report of the World Health Organization. Geneva: WHO, 1999.
24. Godino JG, Merchant G, Norman GJ, et al. Using social and mobile tools for weight loss in overweight and obese young adults (Project SMART): a 2 year, parallel-group, randomised, controlled trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, 2016, 4(9): 747-755.
25. Flores Mateo G, Granado-Font E, Ferre-Grau C, et al. Mobile phone Apps to promote weight loss and increase physical activity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res, 2015, 17(11): e253.
26. MacLean PS, Wing RR, Davidson T, et al. NIH working group report: Innovative research to improve maintenance of weight loss. Obesity (Silver Spring), 2015, 23(1): 7-15.

Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Efficacy of mobile health apps on weight loss: a meta-analysis

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