Table 2.
Impact of smartphone applications on physical activity level and body weight
| Paper | Details | Intervention | Study groups | Findings | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CITY Trial Svetkey et al. [68] |
N = 365, 69.6%, female BMI: ~ 35.2 Age: ~ 29.4 y |
24 months Smartphone app ± personal coaching based on BCT |
3 groups Control: weight loss hand-outs Smartphone: smartphone app BCT + self-monitoring Personal coaching: group BCT sessions + smartphone self-monitoring |
Control: 12 m − 2.25 kg, 24 m − 1.44 kg Smartphone: 12 m − 1.48 kg, 24 m − 0.99 kg Personal coaching: 12 m − 3.58 kg* 24 m − 2.45 kg (*p < 0.05 vs smartphone) |
Smartphone app with BCT and self-monitoring of diet and PA did not significantly reduce weight. Note does not report PA level |
| ENGAGED, Spring et al. [65] |
N = 96, 84.4% Female BMI: ~ 34.6 Age: ~ 39.3 y |
6 months with a 12-month follow-up Smartphone app with SNS features + accelerometry |
3 groups Self-guided: paper monitoring diet/PA/weight Standard: paper monitoring + group BCT sessions Technology: smartphone app + group BCT sessions |
Self-guided: 6 m − 2.7 kg, 12 m − 2.7 kg Standard: 6 m − 6.6 kg, 12 m − 5.6 kg Technology: 6 m − 4.7 kg, 12 m − 3.1 kg Standard + technology: 6 m − 5.7 kg*, 12 m − 4.4 kg (*p < 0.05 vs self-guided) |
A technology intervention did not lead to significantly greater weight loss than self-guided intervention. Note that PA level was not reported on and that both PA + DM were used |
| Goldstein et al. [112] |
N = 276, 83%, female BMI: ~ 35.2 Age: ~ 55.1 y |
Post-hoc analysis of RCT Self-monitor diet, weight, PA via paper/smart-phone app DM + PA |
3 groups Control = self-monitoring/feedback via paper diary Group = paper diary self-monitoring + group BWL Smart = smartphone self-monitoring and feedback |
Group: β = 0.03* for PA predicting % weight loss, β = 0.21* for diet monitoring predicting % weight loss Smart: β = 0.02* for PA predicting % weight loss, β = 0.07 for diet monitoring predicting % weight loss (*p < 0.05) |
Smartphone PA monitoring predicted weight loss to similar degrees as paper diary monitoring |
| Ryu et al. [107•] |
N = 80, 23.5%, female BMI: ~ 27.5 Age: ~ 38.7 y |
4 weeks Electronic health record tethered smartphone app monitoring diet + PA |
2 groups Control Smartphone: tethered to electronic health record |
Control: − 0.1 BMI Smartphone: − 0.5* BMI (*p < 0.05 vs baseline) |
4 weeks of smartphone app linked to personal health record correlated with higher body weight loss. Note PA level not reported |
Original table created by authors
BMI body mass index, y years, N number, PA physical activity, MVPA moderately vigorous physical activity, p p-value, SBWL standard behavioural weight loss