A cost analysis of implementing a behavioral weight loss intervention in community mental health settings: Results from the ACHIEVE trial

The Influence of Behavioral Sciences on Adherence to Physical Activity and Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

In recent years, weight gain and reduced physical activity in the general population have contributed to the development of obesity and other health problems; on the other hand, studies in behavioral sciences have been used to modify behaviors for a healthier life, so the objective of this study was to identify the evidence of interventions in behavioral sciences on adherence to physical activity and weight loss in obese patients. This systematic review study is based on a search of the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane. Studies assessed the evidence from intervention studies that assessed the influence of intervention studies of behavioral sciences on public health. The articles were published between 2013 and 2023. The systematic search of the databases identified 2951 articles. The review analyzed 10 studies. Behavioral science interventions presented evidence through strategies such as multicomponent interventions, lottery and financial incentives, message framing, message framing with financial incentive and physical activity, and psychological satisfaction, demonstrating results in weight loss and maintenance and increased physical activity. This study presents scientific evidence through healthy behavior change methodologies, and future studies can explore these strategies in conjunction with public health technologies in the search for public-private partnerships to promote physical activity in adults.

Associations between behaviour change technique clusters and weight loss outcomes of automated digital interventions: a systematic review and meta-regression

Automated digital interventions for weight loss represent a highly scalable and potentially cost-effective approach to treat obesity. However, current understanding of the active components of automated digital interventions is limited, hindering efforts to improve efficacy. Thus, the current systematic review and meta-analysis (preregistration: PROSPERO 2021-CRD42021238878) examined relationships between utilisation of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and the efficacy of automated digital interventions for producing weight loss. Electronic database searches (December 2020 to March 2021) were used to identify trials of automated digital interventions reporting weight loss as an outcome. BCT clusters were coded using Michie's 93-item BCT taxonomy. Mixed-effects meta-regression was used to examine moderating effects of BCT clusters and techniques on both within-group and between-group measures of weight change. One hundred and eight conditions across sixty-six trials met inclusion criteria (13,672 participants). Random-effects meta-analysis revealed a small mean post-intervention weight loss of -1.37 kg (95% CI, -1.75 to -1.00) relative to control groups. Interventions utilised a median of five BCT clusters, with goal-setting, feedback and providing instruction on behaviour being most common. Use of Reward and Threat techniques, and specifically social incentive/reward BCTs, was associated with a higher between-group difference in efficacy, although results were not robust to sensitivity analyses.

Automated Messaging Delivered Alongside Behavioral Treatment for Weight Loss: Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Mobile health interventions for weight loss frequently use automated messaging. However, this intervention modality appears to have limited weight loss efficacy. Furthermore, data on users' subjective experiences while receiving automated messaging-based interventions for weight loss are scarce, especially for more advanced messaging systems providing users with individually tailored, data-informed feedback.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to characterize the experiences of individuals with overweight or obesity who received automated messages for 6-12 months as part of a behavioral weight loss trial.

METHODS

Participants (n=40) provided Likert-scale ratings of messaging acceptability and completed a structured qualitative interview (n=39) focused on their experiences with the messaging system and generating suggestions for improvement. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Participants found the messages most useful for summarizing goal progress and least useful for suggesting new behavioral strategies. Overall message acceptability was moderate (2.67 out of 5). From the interviews, 2 meta-themes emerged. Participants indicated that although the messages provided useful reminders of intervention goals and skills, they did not adequately capture their lived experiences while losing weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Many participants found the automated messages insufficiently tailored to their personal weight loss experiences. Future studies should explore alternative methods for message tailoring (eg, allowing for a higher degree of participant input and interactivity) that may boost treatment engagement and efficacy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05231824; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05231824.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of physical activity interventions for people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: systematic review

BACKGROUND

Clinical guidelines recommend providing physical activity interventions (PAIs) to people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder for weight management. However, the cost-effectiveness of PAIs is unknown.

AIMS

To evaluate the availability and methodological quality of economic evaluations of PAIs for people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

METHOD

Four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo and Scopus) were searched on 5 July 2022. Based on the retrieved studies, forward and backward citation searches were conducted. Two reviewers independently selected studies for inclusion. Study quality was assessed using the Drummond checklist. Review results were presented using narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

Fourteen articles reporting nine studies were included. All included studies assessed PAIs within a multicomponent lifestyle intervention. Mixed findings were reported on the cost-effectiveness of multicomponent lifestyle intervention: three studies reported it as cost-effective; four studies reported it as not cost-effective; and two studies did not conclude whether it was cost-effective or not. Very limited evidence suggests that certain patient subgroups might be more likely to benefit from multicomponent lifestyle interventions with a PAI component: men; individuals with comorbid type 2 diabetes; and individuals who have been psychiatric hospital in-patients for ≥1 year. The quality of included studies ranged from moderate to high.

CONCLUSIONS

The current economic evidence suggests that not all modalities of multicomponent lifestyle intervention including a PAI component are cost-effective for people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder; and not all people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder would benefit equally from the intervention. Future research is urgently needed to identify the cost-effective modality of PAI for different patient subgroups.

Effectiveness of nutrition and dietary interventions for people with serious mental illness: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To review recent published trials of nutrition and dietary interventions for people with serious mental illness; to assess their effectiveness in improving metabolic syndrome risk factors.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials of interventions with a nutrition/diet-related component delivered to people with serious mental illness, published 1 January 2010 - 6 September 2021. Primary outcomes were weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference. Secondary outcomes were total serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood glucose levels.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and CENTRAL databases. In addition, reference lists of relevant publications were examined for further additional studies.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Twenty-five studies encompassing 26 intervention arms were included in our analysis. Eight studies were at low or some risk of bias, seventeen were deemed to be at high risk. Eight of seventeen intervention arms found statistically significant intervention effects on weight, ten of 24 on BMI, and seven of seventeen on waist circumference. The pooled effects of nutrition interventions on metabolic syndrome risk factors were statistically non-significant. However, we identified small size effects on weight for interventions delivered by dietitians (five studies; 262 intervention, 258 control participants; standardised mean difference [SMD], -0.28; 95% CI, -0.51 to -0.04) and interventions consisting of individual sessions only (three studies; 141 intervention, 134 control participants; SMD, -0.30; 95% CI, -0.54 to -0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

We found only limited evidence for nutrition interventions improving metabolic syndrome risk factors in people with serious mental illness. However, they may be more effective when delivered on an individual basis or by dietitians.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

CRD42021235979 (prospective).

Developing and Piloting a Novel Ranking System to Assess Popular Dietary Patterns and Healthy Eating Principles

A multitude of weight loss diets exist. However, no one diet has been proven to be superior, despite their claims. Resultingly, this creates confusion amongst consumers and conflicting nutrition messages. The aim of the ranking system was to evaluate a range of dietary pattern’s nutrition profile and financial costs, as well as their potential long-term sustainability and associated adverse effects. Nutrition profile is typically the focal point of weight loss diets with less attention focused towards other factors that may affect their suitability. Five popular diets (Keto, Paleo, Intermittent Fasting, Optifast, and 8 Weeks to Wow) and two energy restricted healthy eating principles (Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and the Mediterranean Diet) were compared for diet quality, cost, adverse effects, and support for behaviour change. In general, healthy eating principles scored more favourably compared to popular weight loss diets in all categories. Lower carbohydrate diets tended to score lower for diet quality due to restricting multiple food groups, had more associated adverse effects and did not encourage behaviour change compared to the other weight loss diets. Optifast was the only weight loss diet to receive a negative score for cost. There should be considerations when undertaking a change to dietary patterns beyond nutrition profile. Diets indeed vary in terms of diet quality, and in addition can be costly, incur adverse effects, and disregard behaviour change which is important for sustainable weight loss and maintenance. This ranking system could create a reference point for future comparisons of diets.

Weight Loss through Lifestyle Intervention Improves Mobility in Older Adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The high prevalence of overweight or obesity in older adults is a public health concern because obesity affects health, including the risk of mobility disability.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The Mobility and Vitality Lifestyle Program, delivered by community health workers (CHWs), enrolled 303 community-dwelling adults to assess the impact of a 32-session behavioral weight management intervention. Participants completed the program at 26 sites led by 22 CHWs. Participation was limited to people aged 60-75 who had a body mass index (BMI) of 27-45 kg/m2. The primary outcome was the performance on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) over 12 months.

RESULTS

Participants were aged 67.7 (SD 4.1) and mostly female (87%); 22.7% were racial minorities. The mean (SD) BMI at baseline was 34.7 (4.7). Participants attended a median of 24 of 32 sessions; 240 (80.3%) completed the 9- or 13-month outcome assessment. Median weight loss in the sample was 5% of baseline body weight. SPPB total scores improved by +0.31 units (p < .006), gait speed by +0.04 m/s (p < .0001), and time to complete chair stands by -0.95 s (p < .0001). Weight loss of at least 5% was associated with a gain of +0.73 in SPPB scores. Increases in activity (by self-report or device) were not independently associated with SPPB outcomes but did reduce the effect of weight loss.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Promoting weight management in a community group setting may be an effective strategy for reducing the risk of disability in older adults.

Cost effectiveness of dietary interventions for individuals with mental disorders: A scoping review of experimental studies

AIM

This scoping review aimed to explore the extent of the evidence of experimental studies evaluating the cost effectiveness of dietary interventions in individuals with mental disorders.

METHODS

Five databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus) were searched to October 2020 for cost-analysis studies of interventions aiming to improve dietary intake in people with mental disorders. No restriction was placed on participant age, mental disorder type or intervention design. Results are presented narratively.

RESULTS

Of 2753 articles identified, 13 articles reporting on eight studies were included. Studies were RCTs (n = 5), cluster RCT (n = 1), cluster preference RCT (n = 1), and pre-post test (n = 1). Seven studies were in community settings (eg, outpatient clinics), and one study in the community housing setting. All studies were in adults, seven included male and female participants, and one included only females. Defined mental disorder diagnoses included serious/severe mental disorders (n = 3), major depression (n = 2), schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or first-episode psychosis (n = 1), any mental disorder (n = 1), and bulimia nervosa (n = 1). Five interventions were multi-behaviour, two were diet only and one was eating disorder treatment. Cost analyses included cost-utility (n = 3), cost-effectiveness (n = 1), cost-utility and cost-effectiveness (n = 3), and a costing study (n = 1). Two studies (25%) reported positive results in favour of cost effectiveness, and four studies reported a mix of positive and neutral results.

CONCLUSIONS

There is limited evidence evaluating the cost effectiveness of dietary interventions in individuals with mental disorders. Additional studies in various settings are needed to confirm cost effectiveness of different interventions.

Cost of behavioral weight loss programs implemented in clinical practice: The POWER trial at Johns Hopkins

Obesity presents an important public health problem that affects more than a third of the U.S. adult population and that is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and costs. Previously, we documented that two primary care-based weight loss interventions were clinically effective. To encourage the implementation of and reimbursement for these interventions, we evaluated their relative cost-effectiveness. We performed a cost analysis of the Practice-based Opportunities for Weight Reduction (POWER) trial, a three-arm trial that enrolled 415 patients with obesity from six primary care practices. Trial participants were randomized to a control arm, an in-person support intervention, or a remote support intervention; in the two intervention arms, behavioral interventions were delivered over 24 months, in two phases. Weight loss was measured at 6, 12, and 24 months. Using timesheets and empirical data, we evaluated the cost of the in-person and remote support interventions from the perspective of a health care system delivering the interventions. A univariate sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate uncertainty around model assumptions. All comparisons were tested using independent t-tests. Cost of the in-person intervention was higher at 6 months ($113 per participant per month and $117 per kg lost) than the remote support intervention ($101 per participant per month and $99 per kg lost; p < .001). Costs were also higher for the in-person support intervention at 24 months ($73 per participant per month and $342 per kg lost) than for the remote support intervention ($53 per participant per month and $275 per kg lost; p < .001). In the sensitivity analyses, cost ranged from $274/kg lost to $456/kg lost for the in-person support intervention and from $218/kg to $367/kg lost for the remote support intervention. A primary care weight loss intervention administered remotely was relatively more cost-effective than an in-person intervention. Expanding the scope of reimbursable programs to include other cost-effective interventions could help ensure that a broader range of patients receive the type of support needed.