Keywords
weight loss studies
Abstract
Background
To adequately assess individual studies and synthesize quantitative research on weight loss studies, transparent reporting of data is required. The authors examined the reporting quality of randomized trials in the weight loss literature, focusing exclusively on subject characteristics as they relate to enrollment, allocation, and follow-up.
Methods
An extensive literature review, which included a computerized search of the MEDLINE database, manual searches of bibliographic references, and cross-referencing of 92 review articles was conducted. A checklist, based on CONSORT recommendations, was used to collect information on whether or not authors reported age, gender, co-morbid disease, medication use, race/ethnicity, and postmenopausal status. Also tracked was whether or not initial and final sample size was reported and stratified by gender.
Results
Of 604 possible articles, 231 articles met eligibility criteria. Important subject characteristics were not reported as the following breakdown indicates: age (11%), gender (4%), race/ethnicity (86%), co-morbid disease states (34%), and medication use (92%). Additionally, 21% of articles failed to report initial sample size by gender while 69% neglected to report final sample size by gender.
Conclusion
Inadequate reporting can create difficulties with interpretation and can lead to biased results receiving false credibility. The quality of reporting for weight loss studies needs considerable improvement.
Original Publication Citation
Gibson CA, Kirk EP, LeCheminant JD, Bailey BW Jr, Huang G, Joseph ED: Reporting quality of randomized trials in the diet and exercise literature for weight loss. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2005, 5 (9). 10.1186/1471-2288-5-9
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Gibson, Cheryl A.; Kirk, Erik P.; LeCheminant, James D.; Bailey, Bruce W. Jr; Huang, Guoyuan; and Donnelly, Joseph E., "Reporting quality of randomized trials in the diet and exercise literature for weight loss" (2005). Faculty Publications. 1655.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/1655
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2005-02-23
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/3602
Publisher
BMC Medical Research Methodology
Language
English
College
Life Sciences
Department
Exercise Sciences
Copyright Status
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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