%0 Journal Article
%@ 1438-8871
%I JMIR Publications
%V 23
%N 11
%P e29003
%T Effectiveness of Information and Communication Technology on Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
%A Park,Jihyun
%A Park,Mi-Jeong
%A Seo,Young-Gyun
%+ Department of Family Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, 22, Gwanpyeong-ro 170beon-gil, Dongan-gu, Anyang, 14068, Republic of Korea, 82 31 380 3805, yg035@daum.net
%K ICT
%K eHealth
%K mHealth
%K weight loss
%K obesity
%K BMI
%K meta-analysis
%K randomized controlled trial
%K children
%K adolescents
%K mobile phone
%D 2021
%7 17.11.2021
%9 Review
%J J Med Internet Res
%G English
%X Background: Internet or mobile device use as a form of information and communication technology (ICT) can be more effective in weight loss and weight maintenance than traditional obesity interventions. Objective: The study aims to assess the effectiveness of child-centered ICT interventions on obesity-related outcomes. Methods: Articles were retrieved from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and PubMed web-based databases. We selected randomized controlled trials in which the participants were aged <18 years. The primary outcomes were BMI, body weight, BMI z-score, waist circumference, and percentage body fat. Results: In total, 10 of the initial 14,867 studies identified in the databases were selected according to the inclusion criteria. A total of 640 participants were included in the intervention group and 619 in the comparator group. Meta-analyses were conducted considering various subgroups (intervention type, comparator type, target participants, mean age, sex, BMI status, and follow-up period). Overall, ICT interventions demonstrated no significant effect on BMI, body weight, BMI z-score, waist circumference, and percentage body fat. Subgroup analyses revealed that the effect of the intervention was statistically significant for the following: web intervention (weighted mean difference [WMD]=−1.26 kg/m2, 95% CI −2.24 to −0.28), lifestyle modification comparator (WMD=−1.75, 95% CI −2.76 to −0.74), intervention involving both boys and girls (WMD=−1.30, 95% CI −2.14 to −0.46), and intervention involving obesity only (WMD=−1.92, 95% CI −3.75 to −0.09). Conclusions: The meta-analysis results for children with obesity who used the web intervention program confirmed significant effects on BMI reduction compared with lifestyle modification. Evidence from the meta-analysis identified internet technology as a useful tool for weight loss in children with obesity. 
%M 34787572
%R 10.2196/29003
%U https://www.jmir.org/2021/11/e29003
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/29003
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34787572