Web-Based Interventions for Weight Loss or Weight Loss Maintenance in Overweight and Obese People: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews

Angela Sorgente; Giada Pietrabissa; Gian Mauro Manzoni; Federica Re; Susan Simpson; Sara Perona; Alessandro Rossi; Roberto Cattivelli; Marco Innamorati; Jeffrey B Jackson; Gianluca Castelnuovo

doi:10.2196/jmir.6972

Web-Based Interventions for Weight Loss or Weight Loss Maintenance in Overweight and Obese People: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews

J Med Internet Res. 2017 Jun 26;19(6):e229. doi: 10.2196/jmir.6972.

Authors

Angela Sorgente^{1

2}, Giada Pietrabissa^{1

2}, Gian Mauro Manzoni^{1

3}, Federica Re², Susan Simpson⁴, Sara Perona², Alessandro Rossi¹, Roberto Cattivelli^{1

2}, Marco Innamorati^{5

6}, Jeffrey B Jackson⁷, Gianluca Castelnuovo^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Psychology Research Laboratory, Ospedale San Giuseppe, IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Verbania, Italy.
² Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy.
³ eCampus University, Faculty of Psychology, Como, Italy.
⁴ University of South Australia, School of Psychology, Social Work & Social Policy, Adelaide, Australia.
⁵ European University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁶ Skinner Institute, Rome, Italy.
⁷ Virginia Tech, Falls Church, VA, United States.

Abstract

Background: Weight loss is challenging and maintenance of weight loss is problematic. Web-based programs offer good potential for delivery of interventions for weight loss or weight loss maintenance. However, the precise impact of Web-based weight management programs is still unclear.

Objective: The purpose of this meta-systematic review was to provide a comprehensive summary of the efficacy of Web-based interventions for weight loss and weight loss maintenance.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses that included at least one study investigating the effect of a Web-based intervention on weight loss and/or weight loss maintenance among samples of overweight and/or obese individuals. Twenty identified reviews met the inclusion criteria. The Revised Assessment of Multiple SysTemAtic Reviews (R-AMSTAR) was used to assess methodological quality of reviews. All included reviews were of sufficient methodological quality (R-AMSTAR score ≥22). Key methodological and outcome data were extracted from each review.

Results: Web-based interventions for both weight loss and weight loss maintenance were more effective than minimal or control conditions. However, when contrasted with comparable non-Web-based interventions, results were less consistent across reviews.

Conclusions: Overall, the efficacy of weight loss maintenance interventions was stronger than the efficacy of weight loss interventions, but further evidence is needed to more clearly understand the efficacy of both types of Web-based interventions.

Trial registration: PROSPERO 2015: CRD42015029377; http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.asp? ID=CRD42015029377 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6qkSafdCZ).

Keywords: Internet; body weight maintenance; delivery of health care; obesity; overweight; review; telemedicine; treatment outcome; weight loss.

©Angela Sorgente, Giada Pietrabissa, Gian Mauro Manzoni, Federica Re, Susan Simpson, Sara Perona, Alessandro Rossi, Roberto Cattivelli, Marco Innamorati, Jeffrey B Jackson, Gianluca Castelnuovo. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 26.06.2017.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Female
Humans
Internet / statistics & numerical data*
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity / therapy*
Overweight / therapy*
Telemedicine / methods*
Weight Loss / physiology*