Research Article

Effect of JumpstartMD, a Commercial Low-Calorie Low-Carbohydrate Physician-Supervised Weight Loss Program, on 22,407 Adults

Table 1

Sample characteristics of studies on commercial weight loss programs.

StudyDescriptionSelection criteriaRecruited sample
AgeBMIAge% maleBMI

Weight Watchers (WW)
Ahern et al. [11]NHS referral to 12 meetings 4/2/07–10/6/09 (N = 29,326)Adult49 (17)1035.1 (5.7)
Ahern et al. [31]RT of 12 wk WW vs. self-help. 3 mo and 12 mo endpoints.>18≥2853.6 (13.3)3234.7 (5.4)
Ahern et al. [31]RT 52 of wk WW (N = 528) vs. self-help≥18≥2853.3 (14.0)3234.5 (5.1)
Aston et al. [32]NHS referral 6/28/05 to 5/30/07 (N = 967)16–81≥3049.4 (8.5)12.335.2 (6.4)
Baetge et al. [33]RT of WW (N = 29) vs. others. 12 wk.18–6927–5048 (11)034 (6)
Dansinger et al. [34]RT of WW (N = 40) vs. others22–7227–4249 (10)4235 (3.8)
Dixon et al. [12]North Somerset NHS referral 12/01/07–5/31/10 (N = 414) 12 wk.≥16≥3046.8 (15.0)11.537.9 (6.2)
Heshka et al. [35]RT of WW (N = 211) vs. self-help. 26 wk18–6527–4045 (10)1833.8 (3.4)
Heshka et al. [8]RT of WW (N = 211) vs. self-help. 1 and 2 yr results18–6527–4045 (10)1833.8 (3.4)
Jebb et al. [6]RT of WW (N = 377) vs. standard care≥1827–3546.5 (13.5)1231.5 (2.6)
Johnston et al. [36]RT of WW (N = 147) vs. self-help≥1827–4047.5 (11.7)10.933.1 (3.7)
Jolly et al. [37]RT of WW (N = 100) vs. other after 12 wk≥18≥3050.7 (14.6)2834.0 (3.9)
Luszczynska et al. [38]RT of WW (N = 55) assigned to implementation intention prompts or control.18–7625.3–48.344.0 (14.0)033.4 (6.5)
Madigan et al. [13]South Birmingham NHS referral 5/01/09–3/31/10 (N = 1366) for 13 wk≥18≥2848.9 (15.2)12.235.2 (5.8)
Marrero et al. [39]RT of WW (N = 112) vs. diabetes prevention program≥18≥2451.5 (11.5)1736.9 (7.3)
Mitchell et al. [14]Tennessee Medicaid WW referrals in 2006 (N = 1192)≥10Mostly > 3034.93.639.6
O’Neil et al. [40]RT to two methods for calculating and limiting food intake (N = 111)25–6527–3549.7 (10.9)10.831.5 (2.2)
Pinto et al. [41]RT of WW (N = 49) vs. behavioral intervention. 48 wk30–6527–5049.0 (9.2)10.235.5 (5.3)
Truby et al. [42]RT of WW (N = 58), vs. other18–6527–4039.9 (10.9)27.631.2 (2.7)

Slimming World (SW)
Avery et al. [15]Enrolled 1/1/2012–3/31/2012 (N = 24,447) for ≥1 year≥18≥3047.6 (13.7)8.337.1 (5.9)
Avery and Morris [16]Referred to SW by general practitioner (N = 5482)≥18≥2548.8 (14.7)13.237.3 (6.4)
Avery et al. [16]Referred to SW by Healthy Living Pharmacy (N = 1020)≥18≥2543.5 (13.9)8.935.1 (6.3)
Aveyard et al. [43]RT of primarily SW (N = 940) vs. advice only.≥18Mostly ≥305642.734.8 (4.6)
Bye et al. [17]7 of 13 men-only groups opened 6–9 mo (N = 67).29–7127.9–53.64710035.9
Dixon et al. [12]North Somerset NHS referral 12/01/07–5/31/10 (N = 450)≥16≥3047.7 (14.5)16.837.7 (5.8)
Jolly et al. [37]RT of SW (N = 100) vs. other after 12 wk≥18≥3048.8 (14.9)3533.8 (3.8)
Lavin et al. [18]General practice patients (N = 107)23–7830–4749.51136
Lloyd and Khan [19]Dorset, UK referrals from 10/1/08–9/30/09 (N = 2456)>18≥2851.1 (15.0)1336.8 (6.3)
Madigan et al. [13]South Birmingham Primary Care Trust NHS referral 5/01/09–3/31/10 (N = 921) for 13 wk≥18≥2849.6 (14.5)13.435.7 (6.1)
Stubbs et al. [20]Primary Care Trust referral from 5/1/2004–11/30/2009 (N = 34,271)≥16Mostly ≥3047.3 (14.4)10.736.8 (6.5)
Stubbs et al. [21]NHS 24 wk referrals 5/1/2004–11/30/2009 (N = 4754)≥16Mostly ≥3049.8 (14.3)12.137.9 (6.7)
Stubbs et al. [22]Self-referred patients 1/1/2010–4/30/2012 (N = 1,356,105)19–7920–9042.3 (13.6)532.6 (6.3)

Rosemary Conley (RC)
Dixon et al. [12]North Somerset NHS referrals 12/01/07–5/31/10 (N = 143)≥16≥3046.7 (13.5)11.237.6 (5.7)
Jolly et al. [37]RT of RC (N = 100) vs. other after 12 weeks≥18≥3049.8 (14.5)3133.4 (3.5)
Madigan et al. [13]South Birmingham NHS referrals 5/01/09–3/31/10 (N = 791) for 13 weeks≥18≥2850.1 (14.4)11.534.3 (5.1)
Truby et al. [42]RT of RC (N = 58) vs. other18–6527–4040.6 (10.3)27.631.6 (2.6)

Biggest losers club
Collins et al. [44]RT of basic website (N = 99) vs. control. at 12 wk18–6025–4042.0 (10.9)4132.3 (3.6)
Collins et al. [44]RT of enhanced website (N = 106) vs. control at 12 wk18–6025–4042.2 (10.2)4232.3 (4.3)
Collins et al. [45]RT of basic website (N = 143) vs. others at 24 wk18–6025–4041.9 (10.1)47.232.2 (3.7)
Collins et al. [45]RT of enhanced website (N = 158) vs. others. 24 wk18–6025–4042.0 (10.3)52.832.2 (4.1)
Hutchesson et al. [25]Regular subscribers 6/1/2011–10/24/2011 (N = 953)>18.536.5 (10.7)14.833.0 (7.1)
Hutchesson et al. [25]Fast-track subscribers 6/1/2011–10/24/2011 (N = 381)>18.537.1 (9.1)12.330.6 (6.5)

eDiet
Gold et al. [46]RT of E-diet (N = 62) vs. others>1825–4048.9 (9.9)1532.5 (4.2)
Womble et al. [47]RT of E-diet (N = 23) vs. others18–6527–4044.2 (9.3)033.9 (3.2)

Jenny Craig (JC)
Baetge et al. [33]RT of JC (N = 27) vs. other18–6927–5046 (12)035 (5)
Finley et al. [23]Platinum JC enrollees between May 2001 and May 2002 (N = 60,154)18–7943.2889.9 kg
Martin et al. [24]Platinum JC enrollees 5/1/2001–5/1/2002 (N = 60,164)18–7543.2889.9 kg
Martin et al. [24]Improved JC program 1/1/2005–12/31/2005 (N = 81,505)18–7543.710.392.2 kg
Rock et al. [48]RT of JC (N = 35) vs. control≥1825–4042 (11)034.2 (3.7)
Rock et al. [49]RT of JC with center nutritional counseling (N = 167) vs. others18–6925–4044 (10)033.8
Rock et al. [49]RT of JC with telephone nutritional counseling (N = 164) vs. others18–6925–4044 (10)033.8
Rock et al. [50]RT of low-fat JC version (N = 74) vs. control in type 2 diabetics≥1825–4555.5 (9.2)52.736.2 (4.3)
Rock et al. [50]RT of low-carbohydrate JC version (N = 77) vs. control in type 2 diabetics≥1825–4557.3 (8.6)5236.2 (4.7)

Itrim
Hemmingsson et al. [26]Meal replacement Itrim enrollees 1/1/2006–5/31/2009 (N = 4588)50 (11)1430 (4)
Hemmingsson et al. [26]Restricted calorie Itrim enrollees 1/1/2006–5/31/2009 (N = 676)51 (12)1929 (5)

Nutrisystem
Baetge et al. [33]RT to Nutrisystems (N = 28) vs. other18–6927–5046 (12)037 (5)
Cook et al. [9]RT of Nutrisystems (N = 38) vs. self-directed18–7025–4551.5 (10.9)21.133.5 (4.5)
Fabricatore et al. [51]Enrollees 1/1/2008–12/31/2010 w 3 mo data (N = 103,693)All>2546.9 (12.4)30.234.3 (6.6)
Fabricatore et al. [51]Enrollees 1/1/2008–12/31/2010 w 6 mo data (N = 32,280)All>2548.3 (12.4)28.835.0 (6.9)
Foster et al. [52]RT of Nutrisystems (N = 35) vs. education in type 2 diabetics21–7530–5052.1 (7.7)25.739.1 (5.5)
Figueroa et al. [53]RT of Nutrisystems (N = 13) vs. exercise or Nutrisystems plus exercisePostmenopause≥2554.1 (6)034.8 (4.3)

Metabolic Balance Nutrition Program
Meffert and Gerdes [27]Prospective cohort (N = 524)19–8150 (12.0)15.930.3 (5.7)

Medifast
Coleman et al. [28]3-center retrospective chart review of 5&1 plan from 2007–2010 (N = 446)18–70≥2547 (10.1)13.534.3 (6.2)
Coleman et al. [29]21-center retrospective chart review of 4&2&1 plan from 1/1/2012–3/31/2014 (N = 310)≥18≥2553.5 (14.7)42.937.7 (6.8)
Davis et al. [54]RT of 5&1 plan (N = 45) vs. self-selected isocaloric plan18–6530–5043.0 (10.2)33.338.5 (6.8)
Moldovan et al. [55]RT of 5&1 plan alone (N = 38) vs. with phentermine.35–7035–5048.4 (9.4)23.742.7 (8.7)
Shikany et al. [56]RT of 5&1 plan (N = 60) vs. calorie restriction19–6535–5040.2 (9.2)13.340.4 (3.8)

Health Management Resources (HMR)
Anderson et al. [57]RT of HMR (N = 22) vs. controls20–6530–39.950.5 (7.3)22.735.8 (3.2)
Donnelly et al. [58]RT of HMR with phone support (N = 25) vs. control533634.6
Donnelly et al. [58]RT of HMR with clinic support (N = 27) vs. control523732.8
Furlow and Anderson [30]Medically supervised HMR in consecutive patients (N = 117).≥3048.3 (11.9)3241.6 (9.7)
Furlow and Anderson [30]Healthy Solutions HMR program in consecutive patients (N = 56).≥3047.9 (13.5)3738.0 (6.7)
Smith et al. [59]RT of HMR with no weekly support (N = 28) vs. control19–7025–4044.6 (10.4)2534.6 (3.8)
Smith et al. [59]RT of HMR with limited weekly support (N = 28) vs. control19–7025–4046.9 (12.1)2332.7 (4.4)

Diet Chef
Mellor et al. [60]RT of Diet Chef (N = 56) vs. self-directed diet (N = 58)30–7027–3545.1 (9.7)2731.6 (2.4)

Abbreviations: HMR: Health Management Resources; JC: Jenny Craig; NHS: National Health Service; RC: Rosemary Conley; RT: randomized trial; SW: Slimming World; and WW: Weight Watchers. Mean (standard deviation).