Efficacy of eHealth interventions to reduce depression in individuals with obesity: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Obesity and depression are inter-related health concerns, demanding a high level of treatment and costs in the health care system. The development of eHealth interventions that simultaneously address obesity and mental health can be supportive in this regard. However, evidence of the efficacy of eHealth interventions in the treatment of depression in obese people is lacking. OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic literature review is to evaluate the efficacy of existing eHealth interventions for obese people that target depression. METHODS We systematically searched electronic databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus) to identify studies published in English between January 2016 and December 2021, that focused on eHealth interventions, targeting depression in obese people. Exclusion criteria were study objectives that (1) focused specifically on one or more metabolic comorbidities of obese people, e.g., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes; (2) focused specifically on eating disorders comorbidities e.g., binge eating disorder, and (3) focused specifically on patients before or after bariatric surgery. RESULTS The database search identified 187 records. Six articles were included in this review. Sample sizes ranged from 70 to 1267 participants of ages 18-60 years. All included studies were randomized controlled trials. Two of the six included studies were web-based interventions guided either by medical doctors or psychologists. All interventions included video, printed materials, and interactive parts of which two studies integrated elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Social Cognitive Therapy. The findings showed that eHealth treatment services, supported and guided throughout the intervention had high acceptance and efficacy in the reduction of depression among obese people. CONCLUSIONS EHealth interventions that address and target both mental and physical health with interactive strategies calls for better efficacy in the reduction of depression. Future eHealth interventions that target depression in obese people should integrate digital strategies that address both mental and physical health through interactive modules.