Preventing weight gain in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Summary Weight gain prevention is a global public health priority to address escalating adiposity in adults. This review evaluates the efficacy of weight gain prevention trials targeting adults aged 18–50 years and adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Trials of any duration from inception to May 2020 that evaluated a weight gain prevention intervention (using either prescriptive diet, prescriptive physical activity, prescriptive diet, and/or physical activity or non‐prescriptive lifestyle) and included weight or body mass index (weight [kg]/height [m2]) were eligible. Twenty‐nine trials across 34 publications (participants n = 37,407) were included. Intervention resulted in less weight gain compared with controls (−1.15 kg [95% CI −1.50, −0.80 kg] p