ArticleObesity science & practice2019
Randomized controlled trial assessing two commercial weight loss programs in adults with overweight or obesity.
Article in Obesity science & practice, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Meal replacements on obesity and leptin: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders · 2025Pooled it
- Weight Loss in Short-Term Interventions for Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Adults With Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Preventing chronic disease · 2024Pooled it
- Early Weight Loss and Other Factors Associated With Clinically Significant Weight Loss in Two Commercial Weight Loss Programmes.Clinical obesity · 2026Trial
- Structured higher protein meal replacement plans for weight loss and metabolic health: A qualitative narrative evidence review of Medifast interventions.Obesity pillars · 2026Review
- Real-world outcomes of hybrid obesity care using digital coaching and GLP-1 therapy in a multi-ethnic Asian setting.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2026Article
- The effect of meal replacements therapy on blood pressure and C-reactive protein: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Clinical hypertension · 2025Review
- Obesity medicine provider-directed health coaching in a commercial weight loss program: Proof of concept.Obesity pillars · 2024Article
- Importance of early weight loss and other predictors of lower weight loss in a commercial program: A secondary data analysis.Obesity science & practice · 2024Article
- Commercial Weight Loss Programs in the Management of Obesity: an Update.Current obesity reports · 2021Review
- Dietary Components, Microbial Metabolites and Human Health: Reading between the Lines.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2020Review
- Randomized controlled trial assessing two commercial weight loss programs in adults with overweight or obesity.Obesity science & practice · 2019Article
- Barriers to and Facilitators of Weight Management in Adults Using a Meal Replacement Program That Includes Health Coaching.Journal of primary care & community healthArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveLifestyle interventions remain the cornerstone for obesity treatment. Commercial programs offer one weight loss approach, yet the efficacy of few such programs have been rigorously investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two commercial weight-loss programs, both utilizing pre-portioned meal replacements (MRs) and different levels of behavioural support, compared to a self-directed control diet in adults with overweight and obesity.
methodsIn this 16-week study, participants were randomized to the low-calorie OPTAVIA® 5&1 Plan® with telephone coaching (OPT), the reduced-calorie Medifast® 4&2&1 self-guided plan (MED), or a self-directed, reduced-calorie control diet. Differences in weight, body composition (DXA) and body circumferences, all measured monthly, were assessed by analysis of covariance with sex and baseline measures as covariates.
resultsOf 198 participants randomized (80.8% female, BMI 34.2 kg/m
conclusionsBoth structured commercial programs were more efficacious than a self-directed, reduced-calorie diet for weight loss and other anthropometric measures. Evidence-based commercial programs can be an important tool to help adults with overweight and obesity lose clinically relevant amounts of weight.
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Registered trials
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.