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Efficacy of Mobile Health Applications to Improve Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior: A Systematic Review and
Meng Zhang1, Wei Wang2,3, Mingye Li3,4
1Department of Physical Education, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing 210023, China.
Summary
Mobile health (mHealth) interventions effectively increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in inactive individuals. Multi-component interventions show greater benefits, highlighting the potential of technology in promoting healthier lifestyles.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Digital Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior (SB) are global health concerns linked to noninfectious chronic diseases (NCDs).
- Growing attention is focused on interventions to combat these behaviors and their associated mortality risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review evidence on the efficacy of mobile health (mHealth) technology for increasing physical activity and reducing SB.
- To evaluate interventions utilizing smartphone applications among physically inactive populations.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- Included studies used smartphone apps in stand-alone or multi-component interventions.
- Assessed methodological quality of nine included RCTs.
Main Results:
- Pooled data indicated that mHealth interventions significantly improved physical activity and reduced SB.
- Multi-component interventions, integrating apps with other strategies, demonstrated more beneficial effects.
- Evidence supports mHealth's role in promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior.
Conclusions:
- mHealth interventions are effective for increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary behavior in inactive individuals.
- Multi-component approaches enhance the efficacy of mHealth interventions.
- Further research is needed to optimize user engagement and long-term effectiveness.
