Changing the physical activity behavior of adults with fitness trackers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Objective: To examine whether a fitness tracker (FT) intervention changes physical activity (PA) behavior compared to a control condition or compared to an alternative intervention. Data Source: Searches between January 01, 2010, and January 01, 2019, were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Randomized clinical trials of adults using an FT to change PA behavior were included. Nonclinical trials, studies that included the delivery of structured exercise, and/or studies that only used the FT to assess PA were excluded. Data Extraction: Extracted features included characteristics of the study population, intervention components, PA outcomes, and results. Data Synthesis: Papers were pooled in a statistical meta-analysis using a fixed effects model. Where statistical pooling was not possible, standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Findings were presented in a narrative form and tables. Results: Of 2076 articles found, 21 were included in the review. A small yet significant positive effect (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.17-0.32; P < .01; I 2 = 56.9%; P = .03) was found in step count for interventions compared to control. A small yet significant negative effect (SMD = −0.11, 95% CI = −0.20 to −0.02; P = .02; I 2 = 58.2%; P = 0.03) was found in moderate-to-vigorous PA for interventions compared to an alternative intervention. Conclusion: Trackers may enhance PA interventions, as a general positive effect is found in step count compared to a control. However, there is no evidence of a positive effect when interventions are compared to an alternative intervention. It is unknown whether results are due to other intervention components and/or clinical heterogeneity.
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For step count, three meta-analyses of consumer activity trackers reported effect sizes ranging from 0.23 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.32) to 0.33 (0.16 to 0.50), all statistically significant.
“For step count, three meta-analyses of consumer activity trackers reported effect sizes 8,55,66 ranging from 0•23 (95% CI 0•15 to 0•32) to 0•33 (0•16 to 0•50; ie, small effects), all statistically significant (appendix p 35).”
From Effectiveness of wearable activity trackers to increase physical activity and improve health: a systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. (2022) · cites this paper as [55]
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- Authors
- Lynch, C., Bird, S., Lythgo, N., & Selva-Raj, I.
- Affiliations
- Northern Health (AU)
- RMIT University (AU)
- Exercise Science, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- Corresponding author
- Lynch, Chris
- Venue
- American Journal of Health Promotion
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2019-12-20
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 418-430
- ISSN
- 0890-1171 (ISSN-L)
- 2168-6602
- OpenAlex
- W2994974106
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 5
- FWCI
- 0.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Health Promotion (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Murdoch University Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Context-Aware Activity Recognition Systems
- Keywords
- wearable activity trackers, physical activity behavior, step count, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, wearable devices, behaviour change interventions, adults
- MeSH terms
- Fitness Trackers, Humans, Health Behavior, Exercise, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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