The impact of weight loss interventions on disordered eating symptoms in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review & meta-analysisResearch in context

Summary: Background: It is unclear whether weight loss interventions worsen disordered eating in people living with overweight/obesity. We aimed to systematically evaluate the association between weight loss interventions and disordered eating. Methods: Six databases were searched from inception un...

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Main Authors: Elena Tsompanaki, Dimitrios A. Koutoukidis, Gina Wren, Heather Tong, Annika Theodoulou, Danni Wang, Rebecca J. Park, Susan A. Jebb, Paul Aveyard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:EClinicalMedicine
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258953702400628X
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author Elena Tsompanaki
Dimitrios A. Koutoukidis
Gina Wren
Heather Tong
Annika Theodoulou
Danni Wang
Rebecca J. Park
Susan A. Jebb
Paul Aveyard
author_facet Elena Tsompanaki
Dimitrios A. Koutoukidis
Gina Wren
Heather Tong
Annika Theodoulou
Danni Wang
Rebecca J. Park
Susan A. Jebb
Paul Aveyard
author_sort Elena Tsompanaki
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Background: It is unclear whether weight loss interventions worsen disordered eating in people living with overweight/obesity. We aimed to systematically evaluate the association between weight loss interventions and disordered eating. Methods: Six databases were searched from inception until September 2024. Trials of weight loss interventions in people with overweight/obesity were included if they reported a validated score for disordered eating on either the Eating Disorder Examination Interview or the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire pre- and post-intervention. Interventions included behavioural weight loss programmes (BWL) and pharmacotherapy licenced for weight loss, with or without concurrent psychological support, provided for at least 4 weeks. Pooled standardised mean differences (SMD) in scores of disordered eating were calculated using random effects meta-analyses. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale for randomised and single-arm trials, respectively (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023404792). Findings: Thirty-eight studies with 66 eligible arms (61 interventions: 29 BWL, 11 BWL + pharmacotherapy, 20 BWL + psychological intervention, 1 pharmacotherapy + psychological intervention) and 3364 participants in total were included. The mean weight change was −4.7 kg (95% CI: −5.7, −3.7). Compared with baseline, disordered eating scores improved by −1.47 SMD units (95% CI: −1.67, −1.27, p < 0.001, I2 = 94%) at intervention completion (median of 4 months). Seven randomised trials that directly compared a weight loss intervention to no/minimal intervention reported an improvement of −0.49 SMD units (95% CI, −0.93, −0.04, p = 0.0035, I2 = 73%). Sub-group analyses showed: (a) disordered eating scores improved more in people with an eating disorder at baseline compared with people without high scores, (b) no clear evidence that the association depended upon intervention type, and (c) disordered eating scores improved more in trials rated at low overall RoB. Interpretation: Despite heterogeneity in effect size, weight loss interventions consistently improved disordered eating scores. These findings provide reassurance that weight loss interventions might not worsen disordered eating and may improve it. Funding: Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation Doctoral Fellowship in Clinical Diabetes.
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spelling doaj-art-28331098c06b4456899dc8537f009be82025-02-02T05:29:10ZengElsevierEClinicalMedicine2589-53702025-02-0180103049The impact of weight loss interventions on disordered eating symptoms in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysisResearch in contextElena Tsompanaki0Dimitrios A. Koutoukidis1Gina Wren2Heather Tong3Annika Theodoulou4Danni Wang5Rebecca J. Park6Susan A. Jebb7Paul Aveyard8Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomSummary: Background: It is unclear whether weight loss interventions worsen disordered eating in people living with overweight/obesity. We aimed to systematically evaluate the association between weight loss interventions and disordered eating. Methods: Six databases were searched from inception until September 2024. Trials of weight loss interventions in people with overweight/obesity were included if they reported a validated score for disordered eating on either the Eating Disorder Examination Interview or the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire pre- and post-intervention. Interventions included behavioural weight loss programmes (BWL) and pharmacotherapy licenced for weight loss, with or without concurrent psychological support, provided for at least 4 weeks. Pooled standardised mean differences (SMD) in scores of disordered eating were calculated using random effects meta-analyses. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale for randomised and single-arm trials, respectively (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023404792). Findings: Thirty-eight studies with 66 eligible arms (61 interventions: 29 BWL, 11 BWL + pharmacotherapy, 20 BWL + psychological intervention, 1 pharmacotherapy + psychological intervention) and 3364 participants in total were included. The mean weight change was −4.7 kg (95% CI: −5.7, −3.7). Compared with baseline, disordered eating scores improved by −1.47 SMD units (95% CI: −1.67, −1.27, p < 0.001, I2 = 94%) at intervention completion (median of 4 months). Seven randomised trials that directly compared a weight loss intervention to no/minimal intervention reported an improvement of −0.49 SMD units (95% CI, −0.93, −0.04, p = 0.0035, I2 = 73%). Sub-group analyses showed: (a) disordered eating scores improved more in people with an eating disorder at baseline compared with people without high scores, (b) no clear evidence that the association depended upon intervention type, and (c) disordered eating scores improved more in trials rated at low overall RoB. Interpretation: Despite heterogeneity in effect size, weight loss interventions consistently improved disordered eating scores. These findings provide reassurance that weight loss interventions might not worsen disordered eating and may improve it. Funding: Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation Doctoral Fellowship in Clinical Diabetes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258953702400628XWeight loss programmesDisordered eatingOverweight/obesity
spellingShingle Elena Tsompanaki
Dimitrios A. Koutoukidis
Gina Wren
Heather Tong
Annika Theodoulou
Danni Wang
Rebecca J. Park
Susan A. Jebb
Paul Aveyard
The impact of weight loss interventions on disordered eating symptoms in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysisResearch in context
EClinicalMedicine
Weight loss programmes
Disordered eating
Overweight/obesity
title The impact of weight loss interventions on disordered eating symptoms in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysisResearch in context
title_full The impact of weight loss interventions on disordered eating symptoms in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysisResearch in context
title_fullStr The impact of weight loss interventions on disordered eating symptoms in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysisResearch in context
title_full_unstemmed The impact of weight loss interventions on disordered eating symptoms in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysisResearch in context
title_short The impact of weight loss interventions on disordered eating symptoms in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review &amp; meta-analysisResearch in context
title_sort impact of weight loss interventions on disordered eating symptoms in people with overweight and obesity a systematic review amp meta analysisresearch in context
topic Weight loss programmes
Disordered eating
Overweight/obesity
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258953702400628X
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