ReviewFrontiers in endocrinology2020
Mobile Apps for Weight Management: A Review of the Latest Evidence to Inform Practice.
Review in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 58 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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
58 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- 2026 AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Journal of the American College of Cardiology · 2026Guideline
- The Role of Mobile Apps in Obesity Management: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Addressing Preconception Behavior Change Through Mobile Phone Apps: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Pooled it
- A Technology-Mediated Interventional Approach to the Prevention of Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- The Impact of Digital Self-Monitoring of Weight on Improving Diabetes Clinical Outcomes: Quasi-Randomized Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Trial
- Trial
- Review
- Patient-Reported Unmet Needs and Preferred Strategies for Weight Management in Cancer Survivors.Cancer medicine · 2026Article
- Article
- Obesity treatment across healthcare levels: collaboration and digital solutions - a qualitative study of health professional and patient perspectives.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Exploring the use, benefits, and challenges of nutrition applications among clinical nutrition specialists in Saudi Arabia.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Use of the ME-BYO Index, a Mobile Health App, During an Online Strength Training Program in Adults: Fidelity, Feasibility, and Acceptability Study.JMIR human factors · 2025Article
- Evaluation of Mobile Intermittent Fasting Applications in Chinese App Stores: Quality Evaluations and Content Analysis.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2025Article
- Engagement With and Impact of an mHealth App for Childhood Obesity Prevention and Management: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.JMIR research protocols · 2025Article
- Prediction of Metabolic Parameters of Diabetic Patients Depending on Body Weight Variation Using Machine Learning Techniques.Biomedicines · 2025Article
- Advancing Obesity Management: the Very Low-Energy Ketogenic therapy (VLEKT) as an Evolution of the "Traditional" Ketogenic Diet.Current obesity reports · 2025Review
- Article
- Efficacy of in-person versus digital enhanced lifestyle interventions in adults with overweight and obesity.Obesity pillars · 2024Article
- A Novel Web App for Dietary Weight Management: Development, Implementation, and Usability Study.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- Patient, facility, and environmental factors associated with obesity treatment in US Veterans.Obesity science & practice · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Over the last decade, mobile technology has emerged as a potentially useful platform to facilitate weight management and tackle the current obesity epidemic. Clinicians are being more frequently asked to give advice about the usefulness of mobile apps and many individuals have already integrated apps into their attempts to manage weight. Hence, it is imperative for clinicians involved in weight management to be aware of the latest developments and knowledge about available mobile apps and their usefulness in this field. A number of newly published studies have demonstrated promising results of mobile-based interventions for weight management across different populations, but the extent of their effectiveness remains widely debated. This narrative literature review synthesizes the latest evidence, primarily from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), regarding the clinical use of mobile applications for weight management, as well as highlight key limitations associated with their use and directions for future research and practice. Overall, evidence suggests that mobile applications may be useful as low-intensity approaches or adjuncts to conventional weight management strategies. However, there is insufficient evidence to support their use as stand-alone intensive approaches to weight management. Further research is needed to clarify the extent of utility of these applications, as well as the measures required to maximize their potential both as stand-alone approaches and adjuncts to more intensive programs.
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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.