The Efficacy of Mobile Applications for Weight Loss
Open accessAbstract
Purpose of review A variety of mobile-based applications aimed at weight loss have become popular in recent years. This review describes the features and effectiveness of mobile weight loss apps. Recent findings Overall, mobile apps can help patients lose weight either as well as or better than traditional paper-and-pencil weight loss interventions and often better than minimal intervention control groups. Mobile apps promote multiple strategies, including self-monitoring of diet, exercise, and weight, as well as social support and educational content. Significant variation exists in app types, which makes it difficult to conclude which features drive program effectiveness. Intervention success varies based on patients' level of engagement with the app. There is a deficit of apps and app-based studies of older, less tech-savvy adults, ethnic/racial minorities, and low-income individuals, as well as longer-term studies. Summary Mobile apps can successfully help patients lose weight and represent a cost-effective, accessible alternative to intensive in-person weight loss programs. More research is needed into their long-term potential, especially for hard-to-reach populations.
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Digital health platforms may help bridge gaps in follow-up by delivering individualized nutrition and activity guidance, real-time feedback, and behavioral accountability at scale.
“Digital health platforms may help bridge these gaps by delivering individualized nutrition and activity guidance, real-time feedback, and behavioral accountability at scale.91,92”
From Weight maintenance after discontinuation of GLP-1 therapies (2026) · cites this paper as [92]
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Weight maintenance after discontinuation of GLP-1 therapies
Moiz, A., Filion, K. B., Knäuper, B., Tsoukas, M. A., Brazeau, A.-S., Zolotarova, T., Lelièvre, A., & Eisenberg, M. J. (2026) · EClinicalMedicine · doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2026.103992 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“91,92 Group-based or peer-supported formats may further strengthen motivation through social accountability while reducing cost and clinician burden.”
- Authors
- Ufholz, K., & Werner, J.
- Affiliations
- University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ufholz, Kelsey
- ORCID
- Ufholz, Kelsey
- Venue
- Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports
- Published
- 2023-03-23
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 83-90
- ISSN
- 1932-9520 (ISSN-L)
- 1932-9563
- PMC
- PMC10034244
- OpenAlex
- W4360614568
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 3
- FWCI
- 8.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Mobile Learning in Education
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- mobile health apps, weight loss, obesity, self-monitoring, social support, app engagement, digital interventions, hard-to-reach populations, cost-effectiveness
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