Can Smartphone Apps Increase Physical Activity? Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Exercise Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Smartphone applications offer a scalable and engaging method for delivering physical activity interventions.
• Growing research supports the use of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and objective measurements in this field, enabling robust meta-analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the efficacy of smartphone apps in enhancing objectively measured physical activity among adults.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of 7 electronic databases (2007-2018) identified RCTs meeting specific criteria for app-based physical activity interventions in adults.
• Studies were assessed for quality, and a meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model.
• Sensitivity analyses explored the impact of intervention duration, target behavior, and population type.

Main Results:

• Nine studies involving 1740 participants met the inclusion criteria.
• A meta-analysis of 6 studies found that smartphone apps resulted in a nonsignificant increase of 476.75 steps per day compared to control groups (P=.19).
• Shorter interventions (<3 months) and apps targeting physical activity alone were more effective than longer interventions or those combining physical activity with diet (P=.01 and P=.04, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Smartphone apps provide modest evidence for increasing physical activity, with greatest effectiveness observed in short-term interventions (up to 3 months).
• Further investigation is required to understand the long-term effects and develop strategies for sustained engagement with these digital health tools.