Table 1.
Summary of interventions: Evidence base, consistency and clinical impact
| Intervention | Intervention: Specific | Evidence Base | Consistency | Clinical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietary | Weight loss outcomes | Satisfactory | Good | Satisfactory |
| Increased fruit & vegetables | Satisfactory | N/A | Poor | |
| Low energy diets (overall) | Satisfactory | Good | Poor | |
| Low calorie | Satisfactory | Poor | Poor | |
| High protein/low carbohydrate | Poor | N/A | Poor | |
| Portion controlled meals | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | |
| Mental health outcomes | Poor | N/A | Satisfactory | |
| Eating disorders outcomes | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Exercise & Physical Activity | Weight loss outcomes | Good | Good | Good |
| Aerobic + resistance | Satisfactory | Good | Good | |
| High intensity interval training | Satisfactory | Poor | Good | |
| Pilates | Poor | N/A | Poor | |
| Mental health outcomes | Poor | N/A | Satisfactory | |
| Eating disorders outcomes | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Behavioural & Psychological | Weight loss outcomes | Good | Good | Satisfactory |
| Behavioural weight loss | Satisfactory | Good | Good | |
| Cognitive behavioural therapy | Good | Poor | Satisfactory | |
| Mindfulness based therapies | Satisfactory | Poor | Poor | |
| Acceptance based therapy | Satisfactory | N/A | Satisfactory | |
| Motivational interviewing | Satisfactory | Poor | Satisfactory | |
| Self-monitoring programmes | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | |
| Mental health outcomes | Satisfactory | Poor | Satisfactory | |
| Eating disorders outcomes | Satisfactory | Good | Good | |
| Lifestyle Interventions | Weight loss outcomes | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Good |
| Diet + Exercise | Satisfactory | Good | Good | |
| Diet + Behavioural | Satisfactory | Poor | Poor | |
| Behavioural + Exercise | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Good | |
| Behavioural + Exercise + Diet | Satisfactory | Good | Good | |
| Mental health outcomes | Satisfactory | Poor | Poor | |
| Eating disorders outcomes | Satisfactory | N/A | Satisfactory | |
| Pharmacotherapy | Weight loss outcomes | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Pharmacotherapy only | Excellent | Good | Good | |
| Anorectics | Good | Excellent | Good | |
| Antidiabetics | Satisfactory | N/A | Good | |
| Antidepressants | Good | Good | Good | |
| Anticonvulsants | Satisfactory | N/A | Satisfactory | |
| Vitamin D & calcium | Satisfactory | Poor | Poor | |
| Sodium alginate | Satisfactory | N/A | Poor | |
| Fatty acid supplements | Good | Good | Poor | |
| Dietary protein | Satisfactory | N/A | Poor | |
| Probiotics | Satisfactory | N/A | Satisfactory | |
| Glucomannan supplement | Satisfactory | Good | Poor | |
| Chromium supplement | Satisfactory | N/A | Good | |
| Yeast hydrolysate | Satisfactory | N/A | Satisfactory | |
| Gynostemma pentaphyllum | Satisfactory | N/A | Poor | |
| Green tea extract | Good | N/A | Poor | |
| Pharmacotherapy + Other | Good | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | |
| Pharmacotherapy + Diet | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | |
| Pharmacotherapy + Exercise | Satisfactory | N/A | Poor | |
| Pharmacotherapy + Behavioural | Good | Good | Good | |
| Pharmacotherapy | Pharmacotherapy + Diet + Exercise + Behavioural | Good | Poor | Poor |
| Mental health outcomes | ||||
| Single interventions | Satisfactory | Poor | Poor | |
| Combined interventions | Satisfactory | Poor | Poor | |
| Eating disorders outcomes | ||||
| Single interventions | Satisfactory | Poor | Poor | |
| Combined interventions | Poor | N/A | N/A | |
| Bariatric Surgery | Weight loss outcomes | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Roux-en-Y gastric bypass | Good | Satisfactory | Good | |
| Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy | Good | Good | Good | |
| Laparoscopic gastric banding | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Good | |
| Duodenal switch | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Good | |
| Mental health outcomes | Excellent | Good | Good | |
| Eating disorders outcomes | Excellent | Satisfactory | Good | |
| Other Interventions | Weight loss outcomes | Satisfactory | Poor | Poor |
| Acupressure | Poor | Good | Satisfactory | |
| Acupuncture | Satisfactory | N/A | Good | |
| Bright light therapy | Satisfactory | N/A | Poor | |
| Hot bathing (+ Diet + Exercise) | Satisfactory | Poor | Satisfactory | |
| Mental health outcomes | Poor | N/A | Poor | |
| Eating disorders outcomes | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Weight loss interventions for adolescents | Weight loss outcomes | Good | Satisfactory | Satisfactory |
| Diet | Satisfactory | Good | Satisfactory | |
| Exercise (aerobic) | Satisfactory | Poor | Satisfactory | |
| Behavioural (cognitive behavioural therapy) | Satisfactory | N/A | Satisfactory | |
| Pharmacological (antidiabetics) | Satisfactory | Good | Good | |
| Surgical | Good | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | |
| Lifestyle | Satisfactory | Good | Satisfactory | |
| Lifestyle + Pharmacological | Satisfactory | N/A | Satisfactory | |
| Mental health outcomes | Satisfactory | Good | Satisfactory | |
| Eating disorders outcomes | Satisfactory | Good | Good | |
Note: The evidence base reflects the quantity and quality of available studies: Excellent = >1 SRs or >2 RCTs with low risk of bias; Good = 1–2 RCTs or 1 SR with low risk of bias; Satisfactory = SRs or RCTs with moderate risk of bias; Poor = SRs or RCTs with high risk of bias. Consistency reflects the degree to which study outcomes are consistent with each other: Excellent = all studies consistent; Good = mostly consistent; Satisfactory = some inconsistency; Poor = inconsistent; N/A = only 1 RCT. The clinical impact reflects the statistical and clinical significance of study findings: Excellent = very large; Good = substantial; Satisfactory = moderate; Poor = slight or restricted. The bolded terms (weight loss, mental health and eating disorders outcomes) reflect a summary evaluation of all interventions in each broader category