Donaldson EL, Fallows S, Morris M A text message based weight management intervention for overweight adults. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2014 Apr;27 Suppl 2:90-7. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12096. Epub 2013 Jun 6.
Fukuoka Y, Kamitani E, Bonnet K, Lindgren T Real-time social support through a mobile virtual community to improve healthy behavior in overweight and sedentary adults: a focus group analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2011 Jul 14;13(3):e49. doi: 10.2196/jmir.1
Levine DM, Savarimuthu S, Squires A, Nicholson J, Jay M Technology-assisted weight loss interventions in primary care: a systematic review. J Gen Intern Med. 2015 Jan;30(1):107-17. doi: 10.1007/s11606-014-2987-6. Epub 2014 Aug 19. Review.
Okorodudu DE, Bosworth HB, Corsino L Innovative interventions to promote behavioral change in overweight or obese individuals: A review of the literature. Ann Med. 2015 May;47(3):179-85. doi: 10.3109/07853890.2014.931102. Epub 2014 Jul 10. Review.
Siopis G, Chey T, Allman-Farinelli M A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions for weight management using text messaging. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2015 Feb;28 Suppl 2:1-15. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12207. Epub 2014 Jan 31. Review.
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
