Anthropometric Outcomes of Children and Adolescents Using Telehealth with Weight Management Interventions Compared to Usual Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective:This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effect of telehealth (TH) weight management interventions compared to usual care on anthropometric outcomes in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted identifying randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 1, 2005 and June 1, 2019. Studies using a web-based, smartphone or email TH intervention in children between 2–18 years of age were included. Outcome measures of interest included body mass index (BMI) z-score, BMI percentile, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR). The Grade Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to rate strength of evidence (SOE) and a random-effects meta-analysis was performed when five or more RCTs reported the same outcome. Results: Thirteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Random effects meta-analysis of 10 RCTs detected a small effect for TH interventions compared to usual care in reducing BMI z-score (pooled net change in BMI z-score = −0.04; 95% CI −0.07, 0.00: I2 = 12%). No significant differences were found between groups for other outcomes. Strength of evidence ratings were low or very low in part due to concerns with heterogeneity in study designs, intervention durations, ages of participants, the type of TH used and risk of bias (ROB) of included studies. Conclusions: There is a low strength of evidence that TH had a small effect on anthropometric outcomes compared to usual care. Future RCTs should be well designed to minimize clinical heterogeneity and ROB. Studies of longer intervention duration with adequate, statistically powered analyses should be conducted. Key teaching points Studies using TH with pediatric weight management interventions may be effective to improve health of children with overweight and obesity. Future RCTs should consider clinical heterogeneity of study design for setting, age-group of children, preferences for type of TH and ROB. Studies that include children with severe obesity (<95th%) may need more sensitive outcome measures. Studies of longer duration are needed to better understand long-term weight management success.