Does gamification improve fruit and vegetable intake in adolescents? a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nutrition Science
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Diet-related non-communicable diseases are a leading global cause of mortality.
• Adolescence is a critical period for establishing lifelong eating behaviors and preferences.
• Promoting healthy eating in adolescents is crucial for disease prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the effectiveness of gamification strategies in enhancing fruit and vegetable consumption among adolescents.
• To identify gamified elements and motivational drivers used in interventions targeting adolescent nutrition.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive systematic search of eight databases and grey literature was performed.
• Included studies were peer-reviewed, empirical, focused on individuals aged 10-24, and described gamified elements.
• Seven studies met the inclusion criteria for the review.

Main Results:

• Short-term gamified interventions demonstrated potential in increasing fruit and vegetable intake in adolescents.
• Interventions predominantly utilized extrinsic motivators like points, badges, and leaderboards over intrinsic ones.
• The quality of included studies was moderate, with noted methodological limitations.

Conclusions:

• Gamification can effectively modify adolescent nutrition behaviors in the short term.
• Further research is recommended to investigate longer-duration interventions, intrinsic motivational elements, and subgroup tailoring.
• Addressing methodological weaknesses in study design is essential for future research.