TY  - JOUR
AU  - Noh, Eunyoung
AU  - Won, Jiyoon
AU  - Jo, Sua
AU  - Hahm, Dae-Hyun
AU  - Lee, Hyangsook
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/5/26
TI  - Conversational Agents for Body Weight Management: Systematic Review
JO  - J Med Internet Res
SP  - e42238
VL  - 25
KW  - conversational agent
KW  - chatbot
KW  - obesity
KW  - weight management
KW  - artificial intelligence
KW  - behavioral therapy
AB  - 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. 
SN  - 1438-8871
UR  - https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e42238
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/42238
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37234029
DO  - 10.2196/42238
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/42238
ER  -