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Cited by 22Mobile Health and mHealth ApplicationsDigital Mental Health InterventionsObesity, Physical Activity, Diet

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 82 of the 82 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Can Digital Technologies Be Useful for Weight Loss in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity? A Systematic Review

Open access
Protano, Carmela, De Giorgi, Andrea, Valeriani, Federica, Mazzeo, Elisa, Zanni, Stefano, Cofone, Luigi, D’Ancona, Gabriele, Hasnaoui, Anis, Pindinello, Ivano, Sabato, Marise, Ubaldi, Francesca, Volpini, Veronica, Romano Spica, Vincenzo, Vitali, Matteo, Gallè, Francesca·2024·Healthcare
DOI 10.3390/healthcare12060670PMC PMC10970199
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Abstract

Digital technologies have greatly developed and impacted several aspects of life, including health and lifestyle. Activity tracking, mobile applications, and devices may also provide messages and goals to motivate adopting healthy behaviors, namely physical activity and dietary changes. This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of digital resources in supporting behavior changes, and thus influencing weight loss, in people with overweight or obesity. A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023403364). Randomized Controlled Trials published from the database’s inception to 8 November 2023 and focused on digital-based technologies aimed at increasing physical activity for the purpose of weight loss, with or without changes in diet, were considered eligible. In total, 1762 studies were retrieved and 31 met the inclusion criteria. Although they differed in the type of technology used and in their design, two-thirds of the studies reported significantly greater weight loss among electronic device users than controls. Many of these studies reported tailored or specialist-guided interventions. The use of digital technologies may be useful to support weight-loss interventions for people with overweight or obesity. Personalized feedback can increase the effectiveness of new technologies in motivating behavior changes.

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Metadata

Authors
Protano, C., De Giorgi, A., Valeriani, F., Mazzeo, E., Zanni, S., Cofone, L., D’Ancona, G., Hasnaoui, A., Pindinello, I., Sabato, M., Ubaldi, F., Volpini, V., Romano Spica, V., Vitali, M., & Gallè, F.
Affiliations
  • Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
  • Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
  • Foro Italico University of Rome (IT)
  • National Engineering School of Tunis (TN)
  • Department of Movement, Human, and Health Sciences, University of Rome Foro Italico, 00135 Rome, Italy
  • Department of Medical, Movement and Wellbeing Sciences, University of Naples Parthenope, 80133 Naples, Italy
Corresponding author
Valeriani, Federica
ORCID
Venue
Healthcare
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2024-03-16
Volume
12
Issue
6
Pages
670
ISSN
2227-9032 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/healthcare12060670
PMC
PMC10970199
OpenAlex
W4392916806
Cited by
21
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 2
FWCI
1.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Healthcare (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (Parthenope University of Naples) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Keywords
digital health technologies, weight loss, obesity, overweight, physical activity, mobile health apps, activity monitoring, behavior change, personalized feedback, dietary change, weight loss interventions

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