Effectiveness of web-based feedback interventions for people with overweight and obesity: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background: Web-based delivered interventions have become an innovative option to treat health problems, likeobesity. The aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to analyze the effectiveness of web-basedbehavioral treatments for adults with overweight and obesity. Web-based interventions and comparisoninterventions (traditional weight control programs) were classified according to the following feedbackcharacteristics: frequency, personalization, and provider (human versus machine).Method: From the initial 1789 studies, 15 were included in this review. A network meta-analysis was conducted toanalyze the efficacy of web-based programs with traditional interventions, considering direct and indirectcomparisons. The main outcome was the weight loss mean difference (kg) between baseline and post-treatment.Heterogeneity and consistency assumptions were validated to conduct the network meta-analysis.Results: Network meta-analysis showed comparisons between different treatment options. The main results werethat Intensive Contact Web-based programs were more effective than wait-list (Mean Difference − 1.86 kg; 95%Confidence Interval: − 3.61, − 0.12). Moreover, Intensive Contact Web-based programs were more effective than theother web-based options and self-help traditional interventions. However, the only significant comparison wasIntensive Contact Web-based programs versus Guided Self-Help Web-based programs (Mean Difference − 4.31 kg;95% Confidence Interval: − 5,22, − 3,41). Intensive Contact Web-based programs were the most effective treatmentoption according the obtained results, achieving the first place in the ranking provided by the network meta-analysis with 98.5% of probabilities (11). Conclusions: Intensive Contact Web-based interventions have obtained the first position in the ranking, provingthe relevance of frequent, personalized, and professional feedback and their association with a better prognosis forpeople with overweight and obesity. These results provide relevant information to design more effective treatmentsfor people with overweight and obesity, in a new format especially appropriate for the current situation.Plain English sum (PDF) Effectiveness of web-based feedback interventions for people with overweight and obesity: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352770928_Effectiveness_of_web-based_feedback_interventions_for_people_with_overweight_and_obesity_systematic_review_and_network_meta-analysis_of_randomized_controlled_trials [accessed Mar 04 2022].