Review Article

Effectiveness of Smartphone-Based Physical Activity Interventions on Individuals’ Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Table 2

Characteristics of the included studies.

StudyLocationStudy DescriptionSample and DesignMeasurementStudy DurationKey findings

Bender et al. (2017)San Francisco Bay Area, United StatesEffect of PilAm Go4Health intervention with fitbit app on weight loss (secondary: steps)45 total; 22 inintervention, 23 in controlFitbit accelerometer6 monthsStatistically significant percent weight loss and fasting glucose change in type 2 diabetics
Choi et al. (2016)San Francisco Bay Area, United StatesEffect of MoTHER app (Mobile Technologies to Help Enhance Regular Physical Activity) on PA30 total; 15 inintervention, 15 in controlFitibt Ultra accelerometer12 weeksNo significant difference between groups in steps or self reported PA , intervention saw higher self efficacy, significant evidence that intervention reduced lack of energy as barrier in inactive pregnant women
Direito et al. (2015)Auckland, New ZealandEffect of Zombies, Run and Get Running mobile app on cardiorespiratory fitness51 total; 17 in immersive app, 16 in nonimmersive app, 18 in control groupActigraph accelerometer8 weeksNo significant findings between intervention and control group but time taken to complete fitness test decreased in both app groups compared to control
Fukuoka (2019)San Francisco Bay Area, United StatesEffect of mobile phone based PA education (mPED) on MVPA for 3 months as well as 9 month maintenance phase205 total; 72 in regular, 60 in plus, 69 in controlOmron Active Style Pro HJA- 350IT accelerometer9 months3 month app and counseling intervention acheived significant increase in PA compared to control group for physically inactive females
Garcia- Ortiz et al. (2018)SpainEffect of app in addition to counseling on increasing physical activity (PA) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet833 total; 415 in counseling+app, 418 in counselingActiGraph GT3X accelerometer3 month intervention and 12 month follow-upOverall found no differences between intervention group and counseling- only group in PA increase and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in the long term
Harries et al. (2013)Bristol, UKEffect of bActive app on step count152 totalAccelerometer on smartphone app6 weeksAlways-on, accelerometer-based smartphone apps can increase walking amongst males by around 64%
Hartman et al. (2016)San Diego, California, United StatesEffect of MyFitnessPal on MVPA and weight54 total; 36 in intervention, 18 in usual careActiGraph GT3X Accelerometer,6 monthsCombining technology-based self- monitoring tools with phone counseling supported weight loss over 6 months in women at increased risk for breast cancer
Hebden et al. (2013)Sydney, AustraliaEffect of mHelath intervention with access to mobile app on body weight51 total; 26 in intervention, 25 in controlActiGraph GTIM accelerometer12 weeksIntervention and control group dropped weight, increased light intensity activity, and increased veggie intake
Hochsman n et al. (2019)Basel, SwitzerlandEffect of Mission: Schweinehund on intrinsic PA motivation (secondary: MVPA)36 total; 18 in intervention, 18 in controlAccelerometer in Garmin Vivofit 2 activity wristband24 weeksSmartphone game significantly inmproved intrinsic PA motivation, leading to increased PA for inactive patients with type 2 diabetes
Kitagawa (2019)Osaka, JapanEffect of Smartphone application (UP) on sitting time (secondary: health related quality of life)48 total; 16. in control, 16 in self feedback, 16 in tailored feedbackJawbone UP24 accelerometer2 weeksAll groups showed a significnat reduction in prolonged sitting time. For the tailored feedback group, the longest prolonged sitting time showed the most decrease following intervention.
Lynch et al. (2019)Melbourne, AustrailiaEffect of Garmin app on MVPA levels83 total; 43 intevention, 40 controlAccelerometer in Garmin Vivofit 2 wearable, activPAL12 weeksWearbale technology in this study showed the ability to significnatly increase MVPA lveles in breast cancers survivors
Martin et al. (2015)Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United StatesEffect of SmartLoss app on weight, waist circumference (secondary: blood pressure)40 total; 20 SmartLoss, 20 health educationAccelerometer A&D Engineering, Inc., Wellness Connected WirelessTM Activity Monitor XL-2012 weeksShowed signficant results in which SmartLoss particpants had significantly greater weight loss and reduction in waist circumerfance compared to Health Education for overweight adults
Melton et al. (2016)Georgia, United StatesEffect of Jawbone UP platform on physical activity50 total; 17 intervention, 33 comparisonGT3X+ActiGraph activity monitor6-week trial with 8-week follow-upThe physical activity intervention did not result in a signficant increase in physical activity for the intervention group compated to the control group
Patel et al. (2016)Pennsylvania, United StatesEffect of "Moves" app on step count using social comparison286 totalBuilt in phone accelerometer13 week intervention, 13 week follow-upFound that social comparison (to median, 50% percentile) with financial incentives resulted in significantly more steps than other groups
Patel et al. (2018)Pennsylvania, United StatesEffect of "Moves" app on step count using lottery style209 totalBuilt in phone accelerometer13 week intervention, 13 week follow-upFound that the combined lottery, which included both a higher frequency, smaller reward as well as a lower frequency, higher reward, was the most effect in increasing physical activity in overweigh adults
Pope et al. (2019)Minneapolis, Minnesota, United StatesEffect of Smartwatch+Facebook on intervention interest, use/acceptability, adherence, and retention (secondary: PA levels and diet)38 total; 19 intervention, 19 contorlAccelerometer- Polar M400 smartwatch12 weeksThere was no significant advantage of intervention versus comparison
Poppe et al. (2019)Ghent, BelgiumEffect of MyPlan 2.0 on PA and sendentary behavior54 (RCT1)ActiGraph accelerometer (GT3X=+)5 weekly sessions with one week in between sessions for a total of 9 weeksStudy shows no significant positive effect for the ability of the intervetnion to increase PA or decrease sedentary behavior in type 2 diabetics
Smith et al. (2014)New South Wales, AustraliaEffect of Active Teen Leaders Avoiding Screen-time (ATLAS) on reducting obesity (secondary: physical activity)293 total; 139 intervention, 154 controlActiGraph accelerometer (GT3X=+)20 weeksIntervention was not successful in producing signficiant effects compared to control group for body composition but was for muscular fitness, movement skills, and weight related behaviors
Vorrink et al. (2016)NetherlandsEffect of smartphone application on maintaining PA in COPD patients post 12 week COPD intervention121 total; 62 intervention, 59 controlAccelerometer in smartphone (HTC desire A8181)12 monthsmHealth intervention did not improve or maintain physical activity in patients with COPD
Wang et al. (2016)San Diego, California, United StatesEffect of Fitbit One with mobile app on daily step count67 totalActiGraph accelerometer (GT3X=+)6 weeksStudy showed that increased level of engagement with Fitbit One app was associated with increased steps