Wearables And Smartphone Apps: Changing Physical Activity Behavior

The physical activity levels of adults are declining worldwide, increasing chronic disease risk. In this regard, the wearables and smartphone applications offer new prospects to change physical activity behavior . A recent meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials reported a small to moderate effect of physical activity interventions comprising wearables and smartphone applications on physical activity (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.03 to 0.82; I2 = 85%) . Furthermore, the use of wearables and smartphone applications led to a moderate increase in daily step count (SMD = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.91; I2 = 90%). Source : Gal R, May AM, van Overmeeren EJ, Simons M, Monninkhof EM.

The Effect of Physical Activity Interventions Comprising Wearables and Smartphone Applications on Physical Activity: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Medicine-Open. 2018 Dec 1;4(1):42.