Obesity app did not show greater weight loss overall
Both app groups lost weight on a calorie-restricted diet. A favorable result among frequent users does not establish an engagement effect.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The main randomized comparison did not show significantly greater weight loss with the personalized app than with the logging-only app; this does not prove equivalence. Both groups followed a reduced-calorie diet. An adherent subgroup had a more favorable result with the personalized app, but that selected comparison cannot establish that engagement caused better weight loss.
This abstract-based assessment cannot judge how missing follow-up affected results. The adherence analysis selected people by app usage, so its findings need separate interpretation from the overall randomized comparison.
What researchers found
Absolute weight change at 6 months
Personalized versus logging-only app, with the same diet in both groups; between-group model P=.34.
What the comparison tested
The placebo app still allowed data logging, and both groups shared a dietary program. The study therefore tested the added value of personalized app features within that setting, rather than app use against no support.
Understanding the adherence subgroup
People were not randomly assigned to become frequent users. The stronger result in the adherent subgroup may reflect differences connected with adherence, and cannot explain why those participants lost more weight.
The original publication
Effectiveness of a Digital Therapy on 6-Month Weight Loss in People With Obesity: The Digital Therapy to Promote Weight Loss in Patients With Obesity by Increasing Their Adherence to Treatment (DEMETRA) Randomized Clinical Trial.
Bertoli S, Capodaglio P, Colosimo S et al.
J Med Internet Res · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41118643
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.