Smartphone Apps as a Technological Innovation for Weight Reduction: A Systematic Review & Meta-analysis
- Author:
Azmawati Mohammed Nawi
1
Author Information
1. Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Collective Name:Muhammad Faiz Mohd Ishak; Noor Hazmi Noor Hassim; Safirah Jaan Jaafari; Qistina Mohd Ghazali; Mohd Rohaizat Hassan; Norfazilah Ahmad
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
BMI;
Mobile phone apps;
Smartphone app;
Weight loss
- From:International Journal of Public Health Research
2021;11(1):1351-1360
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction The new technological innovation can have a vast potential for interventions
to help weight loss and combat obesity. The current meta-analysis aimed to
compare the effectiveness of smartphone applications (apps) with other
methods for promoting weight loss.
Methods PubMed, Ovid and Science Direct were searched from 2014 all-inclusive up to
May 2019 for relevant studies that assessed any smartphone/mobile phone app
intervention with anthropometric measurement. Statistical analysis performed
to examine mean difference (95% CI) of body weight, body mass index and
waist circumference. Six articles were included for meta-analysis.
Findings According to the results, compared with conventional or other interventions,
smartphone app interventions showed statistically non-significant decreases in
body weight, body mass index and waist circumference. Intervention through
smartphone apps alone does not produce substantial evidence of weight loss,
even though they might be useful for specific groups.
Originality/value There remain prospects to explore regarding the use of smartphone apps in
combination with other approaches to aid and promote weight loss, as
smartphone use has been proven to influence health-related behavioural
modification.
- Full text:21.2021my0254.pdf
