title: Methodological quality of behavioural weight loss studies: a systematic review.
abstract: This systematic review assessed the methodological quality of behavioural weight loss intervention studies conducted among adults and associations between quality and statistically significant weight loss outcome, strength of intervention effectiveness and sample size. Searches for trials published between January, 2009 and December, 2014 were conducted using PUBMED, MEDLINE and PSYCINFO and identified ninety studies. Methodological quality indicators included study design, anthropometric measurement approach, sample size calculations, intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis, loss to follow-up rate, missing data strategy, sampling strategy, report of treatment receipt and report of intervention fidelity (mean = 6.3). Indicators most commonly utilized included randomized design (100%), objectively measured anthropometrics (96.7%), ITT analysis (86.7%) and reporting treatment adherence (76.7%). Most studies (62.2%) had a follow-up rate > 75% and reported a loss to follow-up analytic strategy or minimal missing data (69.9%). Describing intervention fidelity (34.4%) and sampling from a known population (41.1%) were least common. Methodological quality was not associated with reporting a statistically significant result, effect size or sample size. This review found the published literature of behavioural weight loss trials to be of high quality for specific indicators, including study design and measurement. Identified for improvement include utilization of more rigorous statistical approaches to loss to follow up and better fidelity reporting.
authors.affiliation: UMass Worcester Prevention Research Center, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lemon
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: UMass Worcester Prevention Research Center, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Haughton
authors.affiliation: UMass Worcester Prevention Research Center, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Estabrook
authors.affiliation: UMass Worcester Prevention Research Center, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Frisard
authors.affiliation: UMass Worcester Prevention Research Center, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pagoto
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D065228:Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Intervention; quality; review; weight loss