Energy balance
A hybrid digital health weight loss program combining a mobile application, wireless scale, and meal replacement biscuits achieves clinically significant short- and midterm weight loss (average 5.4 kg at 120 days) without face-to-face interaction.
To lose weight using this method, you need a smartphone, a compatible wireless scale, and access to the specific meal replacement biscuits (Yufit) recommended by the MetaWell app. The core mechanism is a caloric deficit achieved by replacing some meals with these low-calorie biscuits (up to 3 daily) while following the app's personalized meal plan. You must weigh yourself daily using the scale and log it in the app. The program is designed to be remote, so you do not need to see a doctor or nutritionist in person. If your BMI drops below 22, the program switches to maintenance mode.
People following a commercially available hybrid weight loss program using a mobile application, wireless scale, and nutritional program without face-to-face interaction on average achieved clinically significant short- and midterm weight loss.
Why this rating
Large sample size (n=251,718) but observational design with no control group, limiting causal inference.
Source
A Digital Health Weight Loss Program in 250,000 Individuals
Conor Senecal et al. · Journal of Obesity · 2020
DOI 10.1155/2020/9497164
More from this paper
- Higher frequency of self-weighing via the mobile application is associated with greater weight loss in users of the MetaWell program.Moderate
- Men lose more absolute weight than women using the MetaWell program, but women have a higher proportion of achieving clinically significant weight loss (>5% body weight).Moderate
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