Efficacy of dance movement therapy for weight management of overweight or obese adult patients: protocol for a systematic review and trial sequential meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Obesity has become a global health crisis and is in urgent need of effective, sustainable interventions. Although conventional approaches such as dietary modification and aerobic exercise demonstrate efficacy, long-term maintenance of weight loss is still challenging. Dance movement therapy (DMT) is emerging as a promising intervention, combining physical activity with psychological and social engagement to potentially enhance compliance and holistic health outcomes. However, existing studies on DMT for weight management are limited, with inconsistent results.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies comparing DMT and standard lifestyle interventions (e.g., diet/exercise counseling) in overweight or obese adults will be included. Literature searches will be conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Cochrane Library. Two reviewers independently perform the processes of literature retrieval, screening, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias. Risk of bias in included studies is evaluated using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (ROB 2) for RCTs and the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-1) for non-RCTs. Review Manager (RevMan) was used for data pooling. Subgroup analysis, meta-regression, trial sequential analysis (TSA), and sensitivity analysis are conducted.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required because this study is a secondary analysis of existing data. We will disseminate the findings through peer-reviewed publications.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42024614884 STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY: • This systematic review and meta-analysis employs a rigorous methodology and strict adherence to inclusion criteria. • The use of ROB 2 and ROBINS-1 ensures a robust evaluation of study quality. • The certainty of evidence may be limited by inconsistent study quality and small sample sizes of enrolled trials.

© 2025. The Author(s).