Using Mobile Applications to Increase Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 17; no. 21; p. 8238
• Main Authors: Pradal-Cano, Laura, Lozano-Ruiz, Carolina, Pereyra-Rodríguez, José Juan, Saigí-Rubió, Francesc, Bach-Faig, Anna, Esquius, Laura, Medina, F Xavier, Aguilar-Martínez, Alicia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 07-11-2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Applications programs; Body mass index; Colorectal cancer; Diabetes; Disease; Eating behavior; Exercise; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Internet access; Intervention; Mental health; Mobile Applications; Nutrition research; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Primary care; Review; Reviews; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Sedentary Behavior; Smartphone; Smartphones; Systematic review; Telemedicine; Text Messaging; Weight control; Womens health; United States > US; Israel; Spain; telemedicine; smartphone; mobile health; review; exercise; health-related interventions; health promotion; physical activity
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218238

Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity-major risk factors for the main non-communicable diseases-can be addressed by mobile health applications. Using an evidence-based systematic review design, we analysed studies on mobile applications to foster physical activity to determine whether they met the objective of increasing adults' physical activity. A bibliographic search was conducted in October 2020 using PubMed, Cochrane Library Plus, Biomed Central, Psychology Database, and SpringerLink, retrieving 191 articles. After titles and abstracts were reviewed, 149 articles were excluded, leaving 42 articles for a full-text review, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria. Despite differences in study duration, design, and variables, 13 of the 14 studies reported that applications were effective in increasing physical activity and healthy habits as dietary behaviour. However, further longer-term studies with larger samples are needed to confirm the effectiveness of mobile health applications in increasing physical activity.