| Outcome; intervention focus | Meta-analysis, mean difference (95% CI) | Statistical heterogeneity (within group) p value (I2 value, %) | Test for between-group differences p value (I2 value, %) | No. of participants | No. of studies | Quality of evidence rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary weight outcomes | ||||||||
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | ||||||||
| Overall | –1.11 (–1.39 to –0.84) | < 0.00001 | (93) | NA | 10 611 | 26 | Moderate | |
| Behavioural | –1.09 (–1.43 to –0.75) | < 0.00001 | (93) | 0.59 | (0) | 7 487 | 22 | Moderate |
| Pharmacologic + behavioural | –1.27 (–1.82 to –0.72) | < 0.00001 | (93) | 3 124 | 5 | Moderate | ||
| Waist circumference, cm | ||||||||
| Overall | –2.78 (–3.34 to –2.22) | < 0.00001 | (91) | NA | 16 565 | 33 | Moderate | |
| Behavioural | –3.05 (–3.86 to –2.24) | < 0.00001 | (90) | 0.18 | (44.4) | 7 770 | 22 | Moderate |
| Pharmacologic + behavioural | –2.29 (–3.04 to –1.55) | < 0.00001 | (91) | 8 795 | 12 | Moderate | ||
| Secondary health outcomes | ||||||||
| Total cholesterol, mmol/L | ||||||||
| Overall | –0.21 (–0.29 to –0.13) | < 0.00001 | (86) | NA | 10 039 | 33 | Moderate | |
| Behavioural | –0.10 (–0.18 to –0.03) | < 0.0001 | (63) | 0.0001 | (93.1) | 4 282 | 18 | Low |
| Pharmacologic + behavioural | –0.33 (–0.42 to –0.24) | < 0.00001 | (81) | 5 757 | 15 | Moderate | ||
| Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, mmol/L | ||||||||
| Overall | –0.21 (–0.29 to –0.12) | < 0.00001 | (90) | NA | 9 313 | 30 | Low | |
| Behavioural | –0.14 (–0.29 to –0.002) | < 0.00001 | (90) | 0.11 | (60.1) | 3 556 | 15 | Moderate |
| Pharmacologic + behavioural | –0.28 (–0.38 to –0.19) | < 0.00001 | (89) | 5 757 | 15 | Moderate | ||
| Fasting blood glucose, mmol/L | ||||||||
| Overall | –0.26 (–0.38 to –0.13) | < 0.00001 | (96) | NA | 12 646 | 28 | Moderate | |
| Behavioural | –0.14 (–0.23 to –0.05) | < 0.00001 | (81) | 0.02 | (80.7) | 5 106 | 15 | Moderate |
| Pharmacologic + behavioural | –0.43 (–0.66 to –0.20) | < 0.00001 | (98) | 7 540 | 14 | Moderate | ||
| Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg | ||||||||
| Overall | –1.70 (–2.23 to –1.17) | 0.002 | (41) | NA | 16 668 | 37 | Moderate | |
| Behavioural | –1.76 (–2.61 to –0.91) | 0.0009 | (50) | 0.91 | (0) | 7 644 | 22 | Moderate |
| Pharmacologic + behavioural | –1.70 (–2.28 to –1.13) | 0.24 | (19) | 9 024 | 16 | Moderate | ||
| Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg | ||||||||
| Overall | –1.42 (–1.88 to –0.96) | < 0.00001 | (63) | NA | 16 158 | 36 | Moderate | |
| Behavioural | –1.60 (–2.27 to –0.93) | < 0.00001 | (63) | 0.45 | (0) | 7 690 | 22 | Moderate |
| Pharmacologic + behavioural | –1.24 (–1.88 to –0.61) | 0.0002 | (65) | 8 468 | 15 | Moderate | ||
Note: CI = confidence interval, NA = not applicable.