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A structured review of randomized controlled trials of weight loss showed little improvement in health-related quality of life.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Maciejewski, ML; Patrick, DL; Williamson, DF
Published in: J Clin Epidemiol
June 2005

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of weight-loss interventions on health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in randomized controlled trials (RCTs); to conduct a meta-analysis of weight-loss treatment on depressive symptoms; and, to examine methodological and presentation issues that compromise study validity. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a structured review of 34 RCTs with weight-loss interventions that reported the relationship between HrQoL and treatment at two or more time points. We also evaluated study quality. RESULTS: Trials lasted 6 weeks to 208 weeks and evaluated behavioral, surgical, or pharmacologic interventions. Nine of 34 trials showed HrQoL improvements in generic measures. Obesity-specific measures were more likely to show improvement in response to treatment than non-obesity-specific measures. Meta-analysis showed no treatment effect on depressive symptoms. Most trials tracked loss to follow-up and conducted intent-to-treat analysis, but only four trials concealed recruitment staff to randomization and 14 blinded the investigation team to randomization. CONCLUSION: HrQoL outcomes, including depression, were not consistently improved in RCTs of weight loss. The overall quality of these clinical trials was poor. Better-designed RCTs using standardized HrQoL measures are needed to determine the extent to which weight loss improves HrQoL.

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Published In

J Clin Epidemiol

DOI

ISSN

0895-4356

Publication Date

June 2005

Volume

58

Issue

6

Start / End Page

568 / 578

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Research Design
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Quality of Life
  • Psychometrics
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Obesity
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
 

Citation

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Maciejewski, M. L., Patrick, D. L., & Williamson, D. F. (2005). A structured review of randomized controlled trials of weight loss showed little improvement in health-related quality of life. J Clin Epidemiol, 58(6), 568–578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2004.10.015
Maciejewski, Matthew L., Donald L. Patrick, and David F. Williamson. “A structured review of randomized controlled trials of weight loss showed little improvement in health-related quality of life.J Clin Epidemiol 58, no. 6 (June 2005): 568–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2004.10.015.
Maciejewski ML, Patrick DL, Williamson DF. A structured review of randomized controlled trials of weight loss showed little improvement in health-related quality of life. J Clin Epidemiol. 2005 Jun;58(6):568–78.
Maciejewski, Matthew L., et al. “A structured review of randomized controlled trials of weight loss showed little improvement in health-related quality of life.J Clin Epidemiol, vol. 58, no. 6, June 2005, pp. 568–78. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2004.10.015.
Maciejewski ML, Patrick DL, Williamson DF. A structured review of randomized controlled trials of weight loss showed little improvement in health-related quality of life. J Clin Epidemiol. 2005 Jun;58(6):568–578.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Clin Epidemiol

DOI

ISSN

0895-4356

Publication Date

June 2005

Volume

58

Issue

6

Start / End Page

568 / 578

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Research Design
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Quality of Life
  • Psychometrics
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Obesity
  • Middle Aged
  • Male