%0 Journal Article
%@ 1438-8871
%I JMIR Publications
%V 25
%N 
%P e42238
%T Conversational Agents for Body Weight Management: Systematic Review
%A Noh,Eunyoung
%A Won,Jiyoon
%A Jo,Sua
%A Hahm,Dae-Hyun
%A Lee,Hyangsook
%+ Department of Medical Science of Meridian, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyung Hee Dae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea, 82 2 961 0703, erc633@khu.ac.kr
%K conversational agent
%K chatbot
%K obesity
%K weight management
%K artificial intelligence
%K behavioral therapy
%D 2023
%7 26.5.2023
%9 Review
%J J Med Internet Res
%G English
%X Background: Obesity is a public health issue worldwide. Conversational agents (CAs), also frequently called chatbots, are computer programs that simulate dialogue between people. Owing to better accessibility, cost-effectiveness, personalization, and compassionate patient-centered treatments, CAs are expected to have the potential to provide sustainable lifestyle counseling for weight management. Objective: This systematic review aimed to critically summarize and evaluate clinical studies on the effectiveness and feasibility of CAs with unconstrained natural language input for weight management. Methods: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), PsycINFO, and ACM Digital Library were searched up to December 2022. Studies were included if CAs were used for weight management and had a capability for unconstrained natural language input. No restrictions were imposed on study design, language, or publication type. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool or the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. The extracted data from the included studies were tabulated and narratively summarized as substantial heterogeneity was expected. Results: In total, 8 studies met the eligibility criteria: 3 (38%) randomized controlled trials and 5 (62%) uncontrolled before-and-after studies. The CAs in the included studies were aimed at behavior changes through education, advice on food choices, or counseling via psychological approaches. Of the included studies, only 38% (3/8) reported a substantial weight loss outcome (1.3-2.4 kg decrease at 12-15 weeks of CA use). The overall quality of the included studies was judged as low. Conclusions: The findings of this systematic review suggest that CAs with unconstrained natural language input can be used as a feasible interpersonal weight management intervention by promoting engagement in psychiatric intervention-based conversations simulating treatments by health care professionals, but currently there is a paucity of evidence. Well-designed rigorous randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes, longer treatment duration, and follow-up focusing on CAs’ acceptability, efficacy, and safety are warranted. 
%M 37234029
%R 10.2196/42238
%U https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e42238
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/42238
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37234029