Why We Need More Than Just Randomized Controlled Trials to Establish the Effectiveness of Online Social Networks for Health Behavior Change

Men are underrepresented in obesity services, suggesting current weight loss service provision is suboptimal. This systematic review evaluated evidence-based strategies for treating obesity in men. Eight bibliographic databases and four clinical trials’ registers were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of weight loss interventions in men only, with mean/median body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2 (or ≥28 kg/m2 with cardiac risk factors), with a minimum mean/median duration of ≥52 weeks. Interventions included diet, physical activity, behavior change techniques, orlistat, or combinations of these; compared against each other, placebo, or a no intervention control group; in any setting. Twenty-one reports from 14 RCTs were identified. Reducing diets produced more favorable weight loss than physical activity alone (mean weight change after 1 year from a reducing diet compared with an exercise program −3.2 kg, 95% confidence interval −4.8 to −1.6 kg, reported p < .01). The most effective interventions combined reducing diets, exercise, and behavior change techniques (mean difference in weight at 1 year compared with no intervention was −4.9 kg, 95% confidence interval −5.9 to −4.0, reported p < .0001). Group interventions produced favorable weight loss results. The average reported participant retention rate was 78.2%, ranging from 44% to 100% retention, indicating that, once engaged, men remained committed to a weight loss intervention. Weight loss for men is best achieved and maintained with the combination of a reducing diet, increased physical activity, and behavior change techniques. Strategies to increase engagement of men with weight loss services to improve the reach of interventions are needed.

Download Full-text

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Single Versus Multiple Health Behavior Change: Promoting Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Adolescents.

Health Psychology ◽

10.1037/0278-6133.23.3.314 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 314-318 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Judith J. Prochaska ◽

James F. Sallis

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Health Behavior ◽

Behavior Change ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Health Behavior Change ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Multiple Health Behavior Change ◽

Multiple Health ◽

Single Versus

Download Full-text

Examining the Impact of a Mobile Health Behavior Change Intervention with a brief in-person component for Cancer Survivors with Overweight/Obesity: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/24915 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jane C Walsh ◽

Janice Richmond ◽

Jenny McSharry ◽

AnnMarie Groarke ◽

Liam Glynn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Health Behavior ◽

Behavior Change ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Mobile Health ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Health Behavior Change ◽

Behavior Change Intervention ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Effects of individualization and age on mHealth interventions to reduce physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.35920 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hannes Baumann ◽

Janis Fiedler ◽

Kathrin Wunsch ◽

Bettina Wollesen ◽

Alexander Woll

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Behavior Change ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Low Levels

BACKGROUND Children and adolescents increasingly do not meet physical activity (PA) recommendations. Hence, insufficient physical activity (IPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) among children and adolescents are relevant behavior change domains for using individualized mobile health (mHealth) interventions. OBJECTIVE The current review and meta-analysis investigates the effectiveness of mHealth interventions on IPA and SB with a special focus on age level of individualization. METHODS PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials published between January 2000 and March 2021. mHealth interventions for primary prevention in children and adolescents addressing behavior change regarding insufficient PA and SB were included. Included studies were compared for content characteristics as well as methodological quality and summarized narratively. In addition, a meta-analysis with a subsequent exploratory meta-regression examining the moderating effects of age and individualization on overall effectiveness was performed. RESULTS Based on inclusion criteria, 11 of the preliminary 825 identified studies were included for qualitative synthesis and 10 were included for the meta-analysis. Trials included a total of 1515 participants (Age (M, SD) = 11.69 ± 0.788; 65% male; 35% female) with self-reported (n = 4) or device-based measured (n = 7) health data on the duration of SB and physical inactivity (PIA) for an average of 9.3±5.6 weeks. Studies with high levels of individualization decreased insufficient PA levels significantly (d = 0.33; CI = 0.08, 0.58; z = 2.55; p = 0.01), whereas those with low levels of individualization (d = -0.06; CI = -0.32, 0.20; Z = 0.48; p = 0.63), or targeting SB (d = -0.11; CI = -0.01, 0.23; z = 1.73; p = 0.08) indicated no overall significant effect. Heterogeneity of the studies was moderate to low, and significant subgroup differences between trials with high and low levels of individualization (χ2 = 4.04; df = 1; p = 0.04; I² = 75,2%) were found. Age as a moderator variable showed a small effect, but the results were not significant which might have been due to being underpowered. CONCLUSIONS Evidence suggests that mHealth interventions for children and adolescents can foster moderate reductions in PIA but not SB. Moreover, individualized mHealth interventions to reduce PIA seem more effective for adolescents than for children. Although to date only few mHealth studies address inactive and sedentary young people and their quality of evidence is moderate, these findings indicate the relevance of individualization on the one hand and the difficulties in reducing SB using mHealth interventions on the other hand. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42020209417; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=209417

Download Full-text

Using Biological Feedback to Promote Health Behavior Change in Adults: Protocol for a Scoping Review (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.32579 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kelli Marie Richardson ◽

Ahlam A Saleh ◽

Michelle R Jospe ◽

Yue Liao ◽

Susan Schembre

Keyword(s):

Health Behavior ◽

Behavior Change ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Health Behavior Change ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Biological Feedback ◽

Design And Implementation ◽

Behavior Change Interventions ◽

Wide Range

BACKGROUND Many health conditions can be prevented, managed, or improved through behavioral interventions. Biological feedback, as a component of health behavior change interventions, is of particular interest given recent advances in wearable biosensing technology, digital health apps, and personalized health and wellness. Yet, there is a paucity of literature to guide the design and implementation of interventions that incorporate biological feedback to motivate health behavior change. OBJECTIVE The goal of this scoping review is to deeply explore the use of biological feedback as a component of health behavior change interventions that target adults. Objectives of the review include: (1) mapping the domains of research that incorporate biological feedback and (2) describing the operational characteristics of using biological feedback in the context of health behavior change. METHODS A comprehensive list of search terms was developed to capture studies from a wide range of domains. Studies to be included are randomized controlled trials targeting adults ≥18 years old that use biological feedback to change a health-related behavior, and are published as primary research articles, theses, or dissertations. The following electronic databases were searched: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase.com Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBSCOhost PsycINFO, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. The screening and data extraction process will be guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Evidence Synthesis and conducted by trained reviewers. RESULTS Database searches were completed in June 2021. A total of 50,459 unique records were returned after the removal of 48,634 duplicate records. The scoping review is planned for completion in 2022. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this will be the first scoping review to map the literature that uses biological feedback as a component of health behavior change interventions targeting adults. Findings will be used to develop a framework to guide the design and implementation of future health behavior change interventions that incorporate biological feedback. CLINICALTRIAL 10.17605/OSF.IO/YP5WA

Download Full-text