Skip to main content

Table 3 Study features

From: Effectiveness of mobile electronic devices in weight loss among overweight and obese populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis

 

Study duration ≤ 6 months

Study duration > 6 months

 

Beasley

Patrick

Carter

Shapiro

Haapala

Burke

Reported effect size, WMD (95% CI)

−0.27 (−0.93, 0.39)

−1.99 (−3.76, −0.22)

−1.70 (−4.73, 1.33)

−0.63 (−2.35, 1.09)

−3.40 (−5.75, −1.05)

0.59 (−2.28, 3.46)

Study feature

      

Self-monitoring (Weight)

Participants asked to report weight frequently

x

x

Counselor/Human Professional feedback and communication

x

x

x

x

x

Automatic feedback given

x

x

Prompted reminder to record meals or weigh themselves

x

x

x

Social support

x

x

x

x

x

Opportunity for peer support

x

x

x

x

x

Structured program

x

x

Individually tailored

x

Goal includes to reduce calorie intake

Adherence to dietary monitoring measured

x

Tailored diet/exercise prescription

Each participant was provided with an individual target calorie level.

A baseline dietary assessment for each participant was used to identify unique diet behavior challenges that may contribute to increased caloric intake (eg, snacking behaviors, pacing of consumption, and self-monitoring of food intake). The server processed these data to create goals to target based upon particular logic rules of the expert system. These goals were then presented to the user via text or MMS messages to serve as prompts for food selection and behavioral improvements.

-

-

The program calculated the dieter’s daily energy requirements and physical activity.

-

Additional support

Food portion education pamphlet to assist in determining appropriate food portion sizes for recording using either assessment method.

At intervention onset, participants were given a printed binder with nutrition topics and behavioral strategies to supplement the phone-based messaging and a food and exercise journal to support self-monitoring.

-

Participants received monthly e-newsletters with diet and physical activity information from credible publicly available sources. They also had access to a website that provided health tips, recipes, food and physical activity logs, and a personal weight chart. Participants received USDA recommendations for a balanced diet.

-

Participants daily energy consumption goals were 1200 to 1800 calories, based on the weight and gender; ≤ 25%of total calories could ne form fat. Weekly physical activity goal was 180 minutes by 6 months and increase by 30 minutes semi-annually.