Commercial Programs' Online Weight-Loss Claims Compared to Results from Randomized Controlled Trials.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To characterize weight-loss claims and disclaimers present on websites for commercial weight-loss programs and compare them with results from published randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods

A content analysis of all home pages and testimonials available on the websites of 24 randomly selected programs was performed. Two team members independently reviewed each page and abstracted information from text and images to capture relevant content, including demographics, weight loss, and disclaimers. A systematic review was performed to evaluate the efficacy of these programs by searching MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the mean weight change from each RCT included was abstracted.

Results

Overall, the amount of weight loss portra

SUBMITTER: Vakil RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5678966 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature