TY  - JOUR
AU  - Park, Jihyun
AU  - Park, Mi-Jeong
AU  - Seo, Young-Gyun
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/11/17
TI  - Effectiveness of Information and Communication Technology on Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
JO  - J Med Internet Res
SP  - e29003
VL  - 23
IS  - 11
KW  - ICT
KW  - eHealth
KW  - mHealth
KW  - weight loss
KW  - obesity
KW  - BMI
KW  - meta-analysis
KW  - randomized controlled trial
KW  - children
KW  - adolescents
KW  - mobile phone
AB  - 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. 
SN  - 1438-8871
UR  - https://www.jmir.org/2021/11/e29003
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/29003
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34787572
DO  - 10.2196/29003
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/29003
ER  -