TABLE 2.

Summary of randomized control trials in adults

Reference	Population	Location	Risk of bias	Treatment	Comparator	Duration	Outcomes	Key findings
Boutelle et al. [27]	30 adult parents Any age	United States	Some concerns	RTEC bf 5 d/wk	2 egg bf 5 d/wk	120 d (∼4 mo)	BMI	No difference in BMI within or between treatments
Geliebter et al. [40]	36 adults with overweight 18–65 y	United States	Low	Presweetened RTEC bf + low-fat milk daily	1)Oatmeal + whole milk 2)Water daily	30 d (∼1 mo)	Body weight Weight change Waist circumference Waist:hip FM FFM	-Body weight lower and weight change greater with water compared with RTEC and oatmeal -No difference between oatmeal and RTEC for any outcomes
Jarrar et al. [28]	81 healthy adults fasting during Ramadan 18–65 y	United Arab Emirates	Low	High-fiber RTEC bf	Normal diet	20 d	Body weight BMI Waist circumference % body fat	-Both diets resulted in weight loss and lower BMI -No difference between treatments for body weight or BMI -No difference within a treatment or between treatments for waist circumference or % body fat
Keogh et al. [29]	76 adults with ow/ob >18 y	Australia	Low	RTEC bf 5 d/wk + wt loss diet	2 egg bf 5 d/wk + wt loss diet	180 d (∼6 mo)	Weight loss	-Both treatments lost weight over 6 mo -No difference between treatments
Kuriyan et al. [30]	101 females with ow/ob 18–44 y	India	High	Low-fat RTEC bf and lunch	Dietary advice for weight loss	14 d	Weight loss Change in BMI Waist circumference Abdominal waist circumference Hip circumference	-RTEC treatment lost more weight, had a greater change in BMI, and greater reductions in the waist, abdominal waist, and hip circumference than the comparator
Lattimore et al. [31]	123 normal weight females or females with overweight 20–40 y	United Kingdom	Low	Low-fat RTEC + whole wheat toast bf	Chocolate chip muffin bf	7 d	Body weight	-No within-treatment changes in body weight (between treatment changes not assessed)
Lightowler et al. [32]	41 adults with ow/ob 20–60 y	United Kingdom	High	Single RTEC variety bf and lunch (first 2 wk), bf only (4 wk)	Variety RTEC bf and lunch (first 2 wk), bf only (4 wk)	42 d (6 wk)	Weight loss % change in body weight Waist circumference Hip circumference FM % body fat	-Significant weight loss within both treatments at 2 wk -Significant weight loss within a variety of treatments only at 6 wk -Weight loss and % change in body weight were greater with a variety of RTEC vs. single RTEC -Waist circumference lower within both treatments at 6 wk -Hip circumference and FM lower within a variety of RTEC treatments only at 6 wk -No between-treatment comparisons of the waist, hip circumference, or % body fat
Maki et al. [33]	144 adults with ow/ob and mild/moderate hypercholesterolemia 20–65 y	United States	Low	High-fiber RTEC twice daily + wt loss diet	Low-fiber RTEC and snacks + wt loss diet	84 d (∼3 mo)	Weight loss Waist circumference Triceps skinfold	-Significant weight loss in both treatments -No difference in weight loss between high-fiber and low-fiber RTEC -Waist circumference was lower with high-fiber RTEC treatment compared with low-fiber RTEC
Mattes [34]	109 adults with ow/ob 20–60 y	United States	Low	1)Single RTEC bf twice daily (2 wk) + volumetric diet (4 wk) 2)Variety RTEC bf twice daily (2 wk) + volumetric diet (4 wk)	1)Volumetric diet 2)Usual diet	RTEC groups 42 d (6 wk) Volumetric and usual diet 28 d (4 wk)	Weight loss FM	-Single RTEC and variety RTEC groups both lost weight over the first 2 wk and 6 wk -Both RTEC diets lost more weight than the usual diet -Single RTEC lost more weight than volumetric diet -Single RTEC and variety RTEC groups both lost FM over the first 2 wk and 6 wk -RTEC diets lost more FM than usual diets but not volumetric
Matthews et al. [35]	70 adults with overweight and habitual evening snackers 18–55 y	United Kingdom	Low	RTEC once daily after the evening meal	Usual diet	42 d (6 wk)	Body weight Body fat Waist circumference Hip circumference	-Significant weight loss and lower waist circumference with RTEC treatment -No difference between RTEC and usual diet for all outcomes
Melanson et al. [36]	126 sedentary adults with overweight 18–70 y	United States	Low	WG RTEC twice daily (12 wk), once daily (12 wk) + exercise + wt loss diet	1)Exercise + wt loss diet 2)Exercise + usual diet	168 d (∼6 mo)	Body weight BMI	-Significant weight loss in both hypocaloric diets compared with exercise alone -No difference in weight loss between the WG RTEC diet and weight loss diet + exercise
Stefoska-Needham et al. [37]	56 adults with ow/ob 18–65 y	Australia	Low	High-fiber RTEC twice daily	Low-fiber RTEC twice daily	84 d (∼3 mo)	Weight change BMI change Waist circumference % body fat	-Significant reductions in weight, BMI, waist circumference, and % body fat in both treatments -No difference between RTEC treatments
Vander Wal et al. [38]	133 adults with ow/ob 18–65 y	United States	Low	1)Low-fat RTEC twice daily 2)Low-fat RTEC + bar each once daily	Usual diet	28 d (∼1 mo)	Weight change BMI change Waist, hip, and thigh circumference % body fat	-Significant reductions in weight, BMI, waist, hip, thigh circumference, and % body fat compared with the usual diet
Waller et al. [39]	58 adults with ow/ob and habitual evening snackers 18–65 y	United States	Low	RTEC once daily as an evening snack	Usual diet	28 d (∼1 mo)	Weight change	-Significant weight loss in RTEC group only in compliant participants (20 of 28 d RTEC consumption) -No difference in weight loss compared with the usual diet

Abbreviations: bf, breakfast; FFM, fat free mass; ow/ob, overweight/obese; RTEC, ready-to-eat cereal; WG, whole grain; wt, weight.