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Weight Loss in Short-Term Interventions for Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Adults With Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW — Volume 21 — April 4, 2024
PEER REVIEWED
A total of 1,290 citations from database searches were reviewed and 39 duplicates removed, leaving 1,251 citations for screening. Of these, 515 citations were excluded based on review of title and abstract, leaving 736 full-text articles to be assessed for eligibility. Of these 736, 722 were excluded: 351 for ineligible study design, 173 for ineligible intervention, 54 for ineligible outcomes, 54 for ineligible publication criteria, 63 for ineligible patient population, 17 for ineligible setting, and 10 for ineligible methodology or inadequate data for pooled results. The remaining 14 studies were included in the review and meta-analysis.
Figure 1.
Flowchart of steps in selection of 14 studies for inclusion in a systematic review of weight loss in short-term interventions for physical activity and nutrition among adults with overweight or obesity.
Figure 2.
Mean difference in weight change across all included studies, intervention versus control, systematic review of weight loss in short-term interventions (N = 14) for physical activity and nutrition among adults with overweight or obesity. Meta-analysis was of the effects of intervention versus control on mean difference in weight change (kg) among the 14 included studies. Values less than 0 indicate an intervention effect (ie, favors intervention), and values greater than 0 indicate no intervention effect (ie, favors control). Abbreviation: DL, DerSimonian and Laird’s Q test (22).
| First author (reference) | Intervention length, weeks | Sample size | Mean difference in weight change, kg (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baetge (28) | <13 | 49 | –4.16 (–15.29 to 6.97) |
| Cleo(27) | <13 | 50 | –2.90 (–4.67 to –1.13) |
| Collins (30) | <13 | 210 | –3.34 (–4.23 to –2.45) |
| Hepdurgun (24) | <13 | 101 | –1.54 (–2.27 to –0.81) |
| Morgan (29) | <13 | 105 | –3.90 (–5.21 to –2.59) |
| Morgan (31) | <13 | 110 | –3.70 (–5.09 to –2.31) |
| Padwal (25) | 13–26 | 426 | –0.80 (–2.32 to 0.72) |
| Arterburn (34) | 13–26 | 133 | –4.80 (–6.37 to –3.23) |
| Carnie (35) | 13–26 | 199 | –0.70 (–1.78 to 0.38) |
| Crane (32) | 13–26 | 107 | –4.60 (–12.17 to 2.97) |
| Hardcastle (33) | 13–26 | 334 | –0.75 (–5.89 to 4.39) |
| Jane (36) | 13–26 | 91 | –4.80 (–14.20 to 4.60) |
| Mayer (26) | 13–26 | 402 | –0.70 (–6.20 to 4.80) |
| Yardley (37) | 13–26 | 90 | –2.24 (–4.83 to 0.35) |
Figure 3.
Mean difference in weight change by intervention duration, intervention versus control, systematic review of weight loss in short-term interventions (N = 14) for physical activity and nutrition among adults with overweight or obesity. Meta-analysis was of the effects of the intervention versus control on mean difference in weight change (kg), stratified by intervention duration. Intervention duration is defined as less than 13 weeks or 13 to 26 weeks. Values less than 0 indicate an intervention effect (ie, favors intervention), and values greater than 0 indicate no intervention effect (ie, favors control). Abbreviation: DL, DerSimonian and Laird’s Q test (22). Overall, DL (I2= 69.4%,P>.001).
| First author (reference) | Intervention length, weeks | Control | Sample size | Mean difference in weight change, kg (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baetge (28) | <13 | Wait-list control | 49 | –4.16 (–15.29 to 6.97) |
| Cleo (27) | <13 | Wait-list control | 50 | –2.90 (–4.67 to –1.13) |
| Collins (30) | <13 | Wait-list control | 210 | –3.34 (–4.23 to –2.45) |
| Morgan (29) | <13 | Wait-list control | 105 | –3.90 (–5.21 to –2.59) |
| Morgan (31) | <13 | Wait-list control | 110 | –3.70 (–5.09 to –2.31) |
| Hepdurgun (24) | <13 | Low touch | 101 | –1.54 (–2.27 to –0.81) |
| Padwal (25) | <13 | Low touch | 426 | –0.80 (–2.32 to 0.72) |
| Crane (32) | 13–26 | Wait-list control | 107 | –4.60 (–12.17 to 2.97) |
| Mayer (26) | 13–26 | Wait-list control | 402 | –0.70 (–6.20 to 4.80) |
| Jane (36) | 13–26 | Usual care | 91 | –4.80 (–14.20 to 4.60) |
| Yardley (37) | 13–26 | Usual care | 90 | –2.24 (–4.83 to 0.35) |
| Arterburn (34) | 13–26 | Low touch | 133 | –4.80 (–6.37 to –3.23) |
| Carnie (35) | 13–26 | Low touch | 199 | –0.70 (–1.78 to 0.38) |
| Hardcastle (33) | 13–26 | Low touch | 334 | –0.75 (–5.89 to 4.39) |
Figure 4.
Mean difference in weight change, systematic review of weight loss in short-term interventions (N = 14) for physical activity and nutrition among adults with overweight or obesity, sensitivity analysis removing studies with high attrition, intervention versus control. Meta-analysis was of the effects of the intervention versus control on mean difference in weight change (kg), removing the studies with high attrition (24–26,30,33,35–37) as a sensitivity analysis. Values less than 0 indicate an intervention effect (ie, favors intervention), and values greater than 0 indicate no intervention effect (ie, favors control).
| First author (reference) | Intervention length, weeks | Control group | Sample size | Mean difference in weight change, kg (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baetge (28) | <13 | Wait-list control | 49 | –4.16 (–15.29 to 6.97) |
| Cleo (27) | <13 | Wait-list control | 50 | –2.90 (–4.67 to –1.13) |
| Collins (30) | <13 | Wait-list control | 210 | –3.34 (–4.23 to –2.45) |
| Morgan (29) | <13 | Wait-list control | 105 | –3.90 (–5.21 to –2.59) |
| Morgan (31) | <13 | Wait-list control | 110 | –3.70 (–5.09 to –2.31) |
| Crane (32) | 13–26 | Wait-list control | 107 | –4.60 (–12.17 to 2.97) |
| Arterburn (34) | 13–26 | Low touch | 133 | –4.80 (–6.37 to –3.23) |
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.