An internet-based platform with a low-calorie dietary intervention improves cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese people in China: Half-year follow-up results of a randomized controlled trial

AIM: To explore the effectiveness of the Metawell programme on cardiometabolic risk factors in China, which combines meal replacement biscuits, a wireless scale, and a mobile phone application. METHODS: In this two-arm, parallel-design randomized study, 220 participants were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 110) and a control (n = 110) group. Participants in the intervention group were instructed to use meal replacement products and scales for weight loss and monitoring, whereas participants in the control group received printed materials containing a sample diet and face-to-face weight loss education at enrolment. The trial lasted 6 months, including a weight loss period in Months 1-3 and a weight maintenance period in Months 3-6. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare differences between the two groups. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) ages of the intervention and control groups were 32.00 (28.00, 39.00) years and 33.00 (28.25, 41.00) years, with body mass indices of 28.20 (26.30, 30.95) kg/m² and 27.70 (26.02, 29.70) kg/m², respectively. Participants in the intervention group experienced significantly greater decreases in waist circumference, hip circumference, triglycerides, total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Among participants who did not regain weight during the maintenance period after weight loss, the reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Metawell programme of caloric restriction and remote monitoring can be adapted to overweight and obese people in China to reduce their cardiometabolic risk factors. Furthermore, there was a better improvement in blood pressure in participants who maintained the effects of weight loss.