Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25794148›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2015

Intentional weight loss and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Stephen B Kritchevsky, Kristen M Beavers, Michael E Miller, M Kyla Shea, Denise K Houston, Dalane W Kitzman, Barbara J Nicklas

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 103 papers, 13 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
103citing papers in PubMed, 13 pooled it
17.7field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

103 citing papers in PubMed, 13 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 198 citations in OpenAlex.

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  20. Effect of Intentional Weight Loss on Mortality Biomarkers in Older Adults With Obesity.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2019
    Trial

43 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Stephen B KritchevskyDepartment of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America.
Kristen M BeaversDepartment of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America; Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America.
Michael E MillerDepartment of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America; Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America.
M Kyla SheaHuman Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States of America.
Denise K HoustonDepartment of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America.
Dalane W KitzmanDepartment of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America.
Barbara J NicklasDepartment of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America.
Wake Forest University · USTufts University · US

Funding

Wake Forest Claude D. Pepper OAIC - RenewalP30AG021332 · NIA · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI Denise Kathryn Houston · 2002 to 2026
$36.4M
Intentional weight reduction and physical and cognitive functionR01AG033087 · NIA · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI HOUSTON, DENISE KATHRYN · 2009 to 2013
$4.0M
NIA NIH HHS P30 AG021332NIA NIH HHS R01 AG033087
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObesity is associated with increased mortality, and weight loss trials show rapid improvement in many mortality risk factors. Yet, observational studies typically associate weight loss with higher mortality risk. The purpose of this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of weight loss was to clarify the effects of intentional weight loss on mortality.

methods2,484 abstracts were identified and reviewed in PUBMED, yielding 15 RCTs reporting (1) randomization to weight loss or non-weight loss arms, (2) duration of ≥18 months, and (3) deaths by intervention arm. Weight loss interventions were all lifestyle-based. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated for each trial. For trials reporting at least one death (n = 12), a summary estimate was calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel method. Sensitivity analysis using sparse data methods included remaining trials.

resultsTrials enrolled 17,186 participants (53% female, mean age at randomization = 52 years). Mean body mass indices ranged from 30-46 kg/m2, follow-up times ranged from 18 months to 12.6 years (mean: 27 months), and average weight loss in reported trials was 5.5±4.0 kg. A total of 264 deaths were reported in weight loss groups and 310 in non-weight loss groups. The weight loss groups experienced a 15% lower all-cause mortality risk (RR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.73-1.00). There was no evidence for heterogeneity of effect (Cochran's Q = 5.59 (11 d.f.; p = 0.90); I2 = 0). Results were similar in trials with a mean age at randomization ≥55 years (RR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.71-0.99) and a follow-up time of ≥4 years (RR = 0.85; 95% CI 0.72-1.00).

conclusionsIn obese adults, intentional weight loss may be associated with approximately a 15% reduction in all-cause mortality.

Indexed as

MortalityRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicWeight LossFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPublication Bias

Identifiers

PMID25794148
PMCPMC4368053
OpenAlexW1974224060

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.