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Table 1 Study and population characteristics and risk of bias of each included randomized controlled trial by program and comparator

From: Direct comparisons of commercial weight-loss programs on weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure: a systematic review

Trial

Location population

Risk of biasa -- WT

Descriptions of eligible intervention arms

Baseline characteristics

N

Age

Female

Race

Weight (kg)

Truby, 2006 [14]

Morgan, 2008 [15]

Europe

GEN

S: low

D: unclear

A: high

Overall: high

Weight Watchers

 -Participants attended group classes and were reimbursed program fees.

Atkins

 -Received copy of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution

SlimFast

 -Participants reimbursed cost of up to two each day and provided Slim-Fast support pack

Arm 1:

58

Arm 2:

57

Arm 3: 59

Arm 1:

Mean: 40 (11)

Arm 2:

Mean: 41 (10)

Arm 3:

Mean: 39 (11)

Arm 1:

42 (72 %)

Arm 2:

42 (74 %)

Arm 3:

42 (71 %)

NR

Arm 1:

Mean: 88.8 (13.3)

Arm 2:

Mean: 90.3 (12.7)

Arm 3:

Mean: 90.1 (14.1)

Dansinger, 2005 [13]

North America

GEN

S: low

D: low

A: high

Overall: high

Atkins

 -4 in-person group classes during first 2 months; MVI daily

 -Less than 20 g CHO daily with gradual increase to 50 g daily

 -Received copy of Dr. Atkins New Diet Cookbook

 -60 min of exercise weekly

Weight Watchers

 -4 in-person group classes during first 2 months; MVI daily

 -Track and keep points in daily goal range (~24-32 points daily)

 -Received copy of Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook

 -60 min of exercise weekly

Arm 1:

40

Arm 2:

40

Arm 1:

Mean: 47 (12)

Arm 2:

Mean: 49 (10)

Arm 1:

21 (53 %)

Arm 2:

23 (58 %)

Arm 1:

White: 32 (80 %)

Arm 2:

White: 30 (75 %)

Arm 1:

Mean: 100 (14)

Arm 2:

Mean: 97 (14)

Lockard, 2013 [16]

Galvan, 2013 [17]

Simbo, 2013 [18]

Dalton, 2013 [19]

North America

GEN

S: high

D: high

A: unclear

Overall: high

Curves Complete

 -High protein diet of 45:30, consuming 1,200 kcal/day for 1-week and 1,500 kcal/d for 11 week

 -30-min resistance based circuit interspersed with callisthenic exercises or Zumba 4 days per week

 -Access to online individualized weekly meal plans, daily motivational and educational videos, and weekly personal coaching sessions

Weight Watchers

 -Followed the Weight Watchers® Points Plus program

 -Followed food plans based on a points system

 -Attended weekly meetings for weigh-ins and presentations regarding exercise recommendations, tracking methods, and weight reduction strategies

 -Exercise encouraged but not mandatory

Jenny Craig

 -Received meals delivered to their home for 12 weeks

 -Participated in a weekly phone consultation to discuss weight changes, exercise encouragement, and online tracking methods

 -Exercise encouraged but not mandatory

Nutrisystem

 -Received meals delivered to their home for 12 weeks

 -Participated in a weekly phone consultation to discuss weight changes, exercise encouragement, and online tracking methods

 -Exercise encouraged but not mandatory

Arm 1:

23

Arm 2:

29

Arm 3:

27

Arm 4:

28

Overall:

Mean: 46 (12)

Overall:

100 %

NR

NR

  1. aRisk of bias assessed using three questions from the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool [11]: selection bias selection bias due to inadequate generation of a randomized sequence, detection bias due to lack of outcome assessor blinding, and attrition bias. Attrition bias rated as low if analysis type was intention-to-treat with baseline observation carried forward or equivalent, attrition was <30 %, and difference in attrition between arms was <20 %; rated as moderate if analysis type was intention-to-treat with last observation carried forward or otherwise as indicated in table, attrition was <30 %, and difference in attrition between arms was <20 %; rated as a high if analysis type was completers’ only or attrition ≥30 % or difference in attrition between arms ≥20 %. We designated a trial’s overall risk of bias as low at a time point, if selection bias, detection bias, and attrition bias were all low. If all domains were unclear, we labeled the trial as unclear. We designated the trial as high, if at least one of the above domains were rated as high. Risk of bias was otherwise moderate. Abbreviations: A attrition bias due to amount, nature, or handling of incomplete outcome data, CHO carbohydrates, D detection bias due to knowledge of the allocated interventions by outcome assessment (lack of outcome assessor blinding), GEN study population consisted of patients with overweight and obesity, JC Jenny Craig, MR meal replacements, NR not reported, S selection bias due to inadequate generation of a randomized sequence, WT weight outcome
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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