Harnessing Digital Health Technologies in Obesity Management: Insights from a Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Introduction

Obesity poses a significant global health challenge, with more than two billion adults affected worldwide and projections indicating continued growth in prevalence. It substantially elevates risks of morbidity and mortality and exerts heavy economic burdens. Traditional obesity management strategies—including diet, exercise, and behavioral therapy—are effective at the individual level but face limitations in scalability, accessibility, and maintaining long-term adherence. Digital health modalities, namely electronic health (e-health) and mobile health (m-health), leverage technology to overcome these barriers by providing personalized, scalable, and continuous support for lifestyle modifications. This systematic review and meta-analysis collates evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the impact of digital health interventions on anthropometric measures and lifestyle behaviors in overweight and obese adults.

Study Design and Methods