Background
Obesity is considered to be a risk factor for various diseases, and its incidence has tripled worldwide since 1975. In addition to potentially being at risk for adverse health outcomes, people with overweight or obesity are often stigmatised. Behaviour change interventions are increasingly delivered as mobile health (m-health) interventions, using smartphone apps and wearables. They are believed to support healthy behaviours at the individual level in a low-threshold manner.
Objectives
To assess the effects of integrated smartphone applications for adolescents and adults with overweight or obesity.
Search methods
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and LILACS, as well as the trials registers ClinicalTrials.gov and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform on 2 October 2023 (date of last search for all databases). We placed no restrictions on the language of publication.
Selection criteria
Participants were adolescents and adults with overweight or obesity. Eligible interventions were integrated smartphone apps using at least two behaviour change techniques. The intervention could target physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, weight loss, healthy diet, or self-efficacy. Comparators included no or minimal intervention (NMI), a different smartphone app, personal coaching, or usual care. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials of any duration with a follow-up of at least three months.
Data collection and analysis
We used standard Cochrane methodology and the RoB 2 tool. Important outcomes were physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and weight, health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, well-being, change in dietary behaviour, and adverse events. We focused on presenting studies with medium- (6 to <12 months) and long-term (≥12 months) outcomes in our summary of findings table, following recommendations in the core outcome set for behavioural weight management interventions.
Main results
We included 18 studies with 2703 participants. Interventions lasted from 2 to 24 months. The mean BMI in adults ranged from 27 to 50, and the median BMI z-score in adolescents ranged from 2.2 to 2.5.
Smartphone app v. no or minimal intervention
Thirteen studies compared a smartphone app v. NMI in adults; no studies were available for adolescents. The comparator comprised minimal health advice, handouts, food diaries, smartphone apps unrelated to weight loss, and waiting list.
Measures of physical activity: at 12 months’ follow-up, a smartphone app compared to NMI probably reduces moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) slightly (mean difference (MD) −28.9 min/week (95% confidence interval (CI) −85.9 to 28; 1 study, 650 participants; moderate-certainty evidence)). We are very uncertain about the results of estimated energy expenditure and cardiorespiratory fitness at eight months’ follow-up. A smartphone app compared with NMI probably results in little to no difference in changes in total activity time at 12 months’ follow-up and leisure time physical activity at 24 months’ follow-up.
Anthropometric measures: a smartphone app compared with NMI may reduce BMI (MD of BMI change −2.6 kg/m2, 95% CI −6 to 0.8; 2 studies, 146 participants; very low-certainty evidence) at six to eight months’ follow-up, but the evidence is very uncertain. At 12 months’ follow-up, a smartphone app probably resulted in little to no difference in BMI change (MD −0.1 kg/m2, 95% CI −0.4 to 0.3; 1 study; 650 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). A smartphone app compared with NMI may result in little to no difference in body weight change (MD −2.5 kg, 95% CI −6.8 to 1.7; 3 studies, 1044 participants; low-certainty evidence) at 12 months’ follow-up. At 24 months’ follow-up, a smartphone app probably resulted in little to no difference in body weight change (MD 0.7 kg, 95% CI −1.2 to 2.6; 1 study, 245 participants; moderate-certainty evidence).
A smartphone app compared with NMI may result in little to no difference in self-efficacy for a physical activity score at eight months’ follow-up, but the results are very uncertain. A smartphone app probably results in little to no difference in quality of life and well-being at 12 months (moderate-certainty evidence) and in little to no difference in various measures used to inform dietary behaviour at 12 and 24 months’ follow-up.
We are very uncertain about adverse events, which were only reported narratively in two studies (very low-certainty evidence).
Smartphone app v. another smartphone app
Two studies compared different versions of the same app in adults, showing no or minimal differences in outcomes. One study in adults compared two different apps (calorie counting v. ketogenic diet) and suggested a slight reduction in body weight at six months in favour of the ketogenic diet app. No studies were available for adolescents.
Smartphone app v. personal coaching
Only one study compared a smartphone app with personal coaching in adults, presenting data at three months. Two studies compared these interventions in adolescents. A smartphone app resulted in little to no difference in BMI z-score compared to personal coaching at six months’ follow-up (MD 0, 95% CI −0.2 to 0.2; 1 study; 107 participants).
Smartphone app v. usual care
Only one study compared an app with usual care in adults but only reported data at three months on participant satisfaction. No studies were available for adolescents. We identified 34 ongoing studies.
Authors’ conclusions
The available evidence is limited and does not demonstrate a clear benefit of smartphone applications as interventions for adolescents or adults with overweight or obesity. While the number of studies is growing, the evidence remains incomplete due to the high variability of the apps’ features, content and components, which complicates direct comparisons and assessment of their effectiveness. Comparisons with either no or minimal intervention or personal coaching show minor effects, which are mostly not clinically significant. Minimal data for adolescents also warrants further research. Evidence is also scarce for low- and middle-income countries as well as for people with different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The 34 ongoing studies suggest sustained interest in the topic, with new evidence expected to emerge within the next two years. In practice, clinicians and healthcare practitioners should carefully consider the potential benefits, limitations, and evolving research when recommending smartphone apps to adolescents and adults with overweight or obesity.
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