Can Mobile Technology Improve Weight Loss in Overweight Adults? A Systematic Review
Abstract
The purpose of this systematic review was to identify evidence concerning the effectiveness of mobile applications and wearable devices for weight loss in overweight adults. A database search of PubMed and CINAHL yielded 12 eligible articles following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria consisted of studies primarily pertaining to obesity, inclusion of adult population only (18 years and older), use of experimental study designs only, use of mobile apps or wearable devices as intervention(s), and primary outcome of weight loss. Overall, the research evidence suggests that mobile apps and wearables are effective self-regulating tools for weight loss. Although study design concerns, such as lack of non-intervention comparator groups, prevent a definitive conclusion regarding the relative power of mobile apps and wearables over other self-monitoring methods, evidence indicates that mobile technology can be used as integral tools within overarching weight loss strategies recommended in the primary care setting.
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Wearables may support disease prevention through screening and early detection, assist chronic disease management through remote patient monitoring and personalized care, and facilitate health promotion with data-driven tailored behavior change interventions.
“Wearables may also have the potential to support disease prevention through screening and early detection, assist chronic disease management through remote patient monitoring and personalized care (Huhn et al., 2022), and facilitate health promotion with data-driven tailored behavior change interventions for physical activity and weight management (Wang et al., 2020).”
From Sociodemographics and Digital Health Literacy in Using Wearables for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: Cross-Sectional Nationwide Survey in Germany (2025) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2020
Wearables may offer personalized health monitoring and behavior tracking, deliver immediate feedback on health metrics, encourage healthier lifestyles, and support physical fitness management.
“Wearables may offer personalized health monitoring and behavior tracking (Vetrovsky et al., 2022), deliver immediate feedback on various health metrics, encourage healthier lifestyles, and support physical fitness management (Brickwood et al., 2019; Wang et al., 2020).”
From Sociodemographics and Digital Health Literacy in Using Wearables for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: Cross-Sectional Nationwide Survey in Germany (2025) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2020
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- Authors
- Wang, E., Abrahamson, K., Liu, P. J., & Ahmed, A.
- Affiliations
- Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
- Venue
- Western Journal of Nursing Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2019-11-25
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 747-759
- ISSN
- 0193-9459 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8456
- OpenAlex
- W2991049755
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 0.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Western Journal of Nursing Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Mobile Learning in Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- mobile health apps, wearable devices, weight loss, overweight adults, obesity, self-monitoring, self-regulation, primary care, digital health interventions
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Humans, Technology, Overweight, Weight Reduction Programs, Mobile Applications
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