Effect of Mobile Health Technology on Weight Control in Adolescents and Preteens: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Jui-Mei Yien, Hsiu-Hung Wang, Ruey-Hsia Wang, Fan-Hao Chou, Kuo-Hsiung Chen, Fu-Sheng Tsai

Journal: Frontiers in public health 2021;9():708321

PMID: 34336779

Free Full Text on PubMed Central View on PubMed

Plain Language Summary

Childhood obesity is a world-wide health problem that does not appear to be improving, highlighting a need for new strategies to help weight loss. Technology such as smartphones, wristbands, social media, and SMS are all avenues through which children can engage in weight loss activities, however their effectiveness is still uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 trials aimed to determine the effectiveness of mobile health technology in reducing body mass index (BMI) of children with obesity. The results showed that mobile health technology intervention did not influence weight loss in children with obesity. However, this may be geographically dependent, as the BMI of children from China was lowered with the use of digital technology. It was concluded that mobile health technology intervention was unsuitable to affect weight control in non-ethnic Chinese children. This study could be used by healthcare practitioners to understand that strategies other than the use of digital technology may need to be employed to help children to lose weight.

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a crucial public health concern. In recent years, numerous studies have employed mobile health technology applications for weight control in children but obtaining varying effects. We conducted a meta-analysis to discuss the effectiveness of mobile health technology in reducing the body mass index (BMI) of obese children. The standardized mean difference (SMD) in BMI between the intervention and control groups was employed to measure the effect of mobile health technology intervention on weight control. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3 software was employed for meta-analysis, and the results are presented in a forest plot. This study included nine randomized control trials, which featured a total of 1,202 participants. The meta-analysis revealed that mobile health technology intervention did not have a significant weight loss effect on subjects with obesity. However, by using ethnicity as a moderating variable for subgroup analysis, we discovered that the BMI of ethnic Chinese groups who received mobile health technology intervention was significantly lower than that of the control group. This effect was not significant in the non-ethnic Chinese subgroup. Therefore, the use of mobile health technology intervention for weight control in ethnic Chinese children resulted in significantly lower BMI in these children; however, the use of mobile health technology intervention for weight control is unsuitable for non-ethnic Chinese children.

Address: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.; Department of Health Care Management, University of Kang Ning, Tainan City, Taiwan.; College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.; College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.; Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.; Department of Business Administration, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.; Department of Business Administration, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.; Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.; Super Micro Mass Research and Technology Center, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.708321

Patient Centred Factor

Mediators: Obesity

Physical Environment

Mind and spirit

Clinical Imbalances

Immune and inflammation

Modifiable Lifestyle Factors

Psychological

Nutrition Evidence Keywords

Body mass index Weight loss

Link outs

Free resources

Full Text Sources:

Medical:

MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Biomedical Technology, Body Mass Index, Child, Exercise, Humans, Pediatric Obesity, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Weight Loss