Can Smartphone Apps Increase Physical Activity? Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Amelia Romeo Sarah Martine Edney Ronald C Plotnikoff Rachel Grace Curtis Jillian C Ryan Ilea Sanders Alyson J Crozier Carol Ann Maher

Published in: Journal of medical Internet research (2019)

This meta-analysis provides modest evidence supporting the effectiveness of smartphone apps to increase physical activity. To date, apps have been most effective in the short term (eg, up to 3 months). Future research is needed to understand the time course of intervention effects and to investigate strategies to sustain intervention effects over time.

Keyphrases

physical activity
randomized controlled trial
systematic review
body mass index
depressive symptoms