title: A meta-analysis of overall effects of weight loss interventions delivered via mobile phones and effect size differences according to delivery mode, personal contact, and intervention intensity and duration.
abstract: Weight loss interventions are delivered through various mediums including, increasingly, mobile phones. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses whether interventions delivered via mobile phones reduce body weight and which intervention characteristics are associated with efficacy. The study included randomised controlled trials assessing the efficacy of weight loss interventions delivered via mobile phones. A meta-analysis to test intervention efficacy was performed, and subgroup analyses were conducted to determine whether interventions' delivery mode(s), inclusion of personal contact, duration and interaction frequency improve efficacy. Pooled body weight reduction (d = -0.23; 95% confidence interval = -0.38, -0.08) was significant. Interventions delivered via other modes in addition to the mobile phone were associated with weight reduction. Personal contact and more frequent interactions in interventions were also associated with greater weight reduction. In conclusion, the current body of evidence shows that interventions delivered via mobile phones produce a modest reduction in body weight when combined with other delivery modes. Delivering interventions with frequent and personal interactions may in particular benefit weight loss results.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schippers
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: P C G
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.affiliation: National Center for Telehealth & Technology, Tacoma, WA, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Smolenski
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: H T H
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.|Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J B F
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: de Wit
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D060145:Text Messaging; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Intervention; meta-analysis; mobile phone; weight loss