Mobile-Based Platform With a Low-Calorie Dietary Intervention Involving Prepackaged Food for Weight Loss for People With Overweight and Obesity in China: Half-Year Follow-Up Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Obesity is a rapidly increasing health problem in China, causing massive economic and health losses annually. Many techniques have emerged to help people with obesity better adhere to intervention programs and achieve their weight loss goals, including food replacement and internet-delivered weight loss consultations. Most studies on weight loss interventions mainly focused on the change in body weight or BMI; however, body fat, especially visceral fat mass, is considered the main pathogenic factor in obesity. In China, more reliable evidence is required on this topic. Moreover, it is unclear whether an integrated weight loss program combining food replacement products, mobile app-based platforms, and daily body composition monitoring using a wireless scale is useful and practical in China.

Objective: In this 2-arm, parallel-designed, randomized study, we explored the effectiveness and safety of the Metawell (Weijian Technologies Inc) weight loss program in China, which combines prepackaged biscuits, a wireless scale, and a mobile app.

Methods: Participants in the intervention group were guided to use food replacement products and a scale for weight loss and monitoring, whereas participants in the control group received printed material with a sample diet and face-to-face education on weight loss at enrollment. The intervention lasted for 3 months, and follow-up visits were conducted at months 3 and 6 after enrollment. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and quantitative computed tomography were used to assess body fat. A multilevel model for repeated measurements was used to compare differences between the 2 groups.

Results: In total, 220 patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n=110) and control (n=110) groups. Participants in the intervention group had significantly greater decreases in BMI, total body fat, visceral adipose area, and subcutaneous adipose area (all P<.001) than those in the control group. However, the rate of change in lean mass was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P=.62). Further, 35 participants in the intervention group reported adverse events. Constipation was the most frequently reported adverse event (11/110), followed by dizziness (6/110), hypoglycemia (4/110), fatigue (3/110), and gastritis (3/35).

Conclusions: The Metawell program was effective for weight loss. After the intervention, participants in the intervention group lost more body weight and body fat while retaining muscle mass than those in the control group.