Design, analysis, and interpretation of treatment response heterogeneity in personalized nutrition and obesity treatment research

Abstract

It is increasingly assumed that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to dietary recommendations for the management and treatment of chronic diseases such as obesity. This phenomenon that not all individuals respond uniformly to a given treatment has become an area of research interest given the rise of personalized and precision medicine. To conduct, interpret, and disseminate this research rigorously and with scientific accuracy, however, requires an understanding of treatment response heterogeneity. Here, we define treatment response heterogeneity as it relates to clinical trials, provide statistical guidance for measuring treatment response heterogeneity, and highlight study designs that can quantify treatment response heterogeneity in nutrition and obesity research. Our goal is to educate nutrition and obesity researchers in how to correctly identify and consider treatment response heterogeneity when analyzing data and interpreting results, leading to rigorous and accurate advancements in the field of personalized medicine.

Keywords: heterogeneity of treatment effect; personalized medicine; personalized nutrition; tailored treatment.