Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36974130›Full record

ReviewCurrent cardiovascular risk reports2023

The Efficacy of Mobile Applications for Weight Loss.

Kelsey Ufholz, James Werner

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Current cardiovascular risk reports, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  8. Observational
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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

2 authors.

Kelsey UfholzDepartment of Family Medicine and Community Health, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106 USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4412-4043
James WernerDepartment of Family Medicine and Community Health, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106 USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose of Review: A variety of mobile-based applications aimed at weight loss have become popular in recent years. This review describes the features and effectiveness of mobile weight loss apps. Recent Findings: Overall, mobile apps can help patients lose weight either as well as or better than traditional paper-and-pencil weight loss interventions and often better than minimal intervention control groups. Mobile apps promote multiple strategies, including self-monitoring of diet, exercise, and weight, as well as social support and educational content. Significant variation exists in app types, which makes it difficult to conclude which features drive program effectiveness. Intervention success varies based on patients' level of engagement with the app. There is a deficit of apps and app-based studies of older, less tech-savvy adults, ethnic/racial minorities, and low-income individuals, as well as longer-term studies. Summary: Mobile apps can successfully help patients lose weight and represent a cost-effective, accessible alternative to intensive in-person weight loss programs. More research is needed into their long-term potential, especially for hard-to-reach populations.

Indexed as

mHealthMobile appsPatient engagementWeight lossWeight monitoring

Identifiers

PMID36974130
PMCPMC10034244

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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.