Digital interventions for weight control to prevent obesity in adolescents: a systematic review

BackgroundObesity is a common, serious, and costly chronic disease of adults and children that poses serious long-term health risks. Recent global estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the number of adolescents living with overweight or obesity is now increasing in low- and mi...

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Main Authors: Vincenzo De Luca, Michele Virgolesi, Claudia Vetrani, Sara Aprano, Federica Cantelli, Annamaria Di Martino, Lorenzo Mercurio, Guido Iaccarino, Francesco Isgrò, Pasquale Arpaia, Annamaria Colao, Maddalena Illario
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1584595/full
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author Vincenzo De Luca
Michele Virgolesi
Claudia Vetrani
Claudia Vetrani
Sara Aprano
Sara Aprano
Federica Cantelli
Annamaria Di Martino
Lorenzo Mercurio
Guido Iaccarino
Francesco Isgrò
Francesco Isgrò
Pasquale Arpaia
Pasquale Arpaia
Annamaria Colao
Annamaria Colao
Maddalena Illario
Maddalena Illario
author_facet Vincenzo De Luca
Michele Virgolesi
Claudia Vetrani
Claudia Vetrani
Sara Aprano
Sara Aprano
Federica Cantelli
Annamaria Di Martino
Lorenzo Mercurio
Guido Iaccarino
Francesco Isgrò
Francesco Isgrò
Pasquale Arpaia
Pasquale Arpaia
Annamaria Colao
Annamaria Colao
Maddalena Illario
Maddalena Illario
author_sort Vincenzo De Luca
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundObesity is a common, serious, and costly chronic disease of adults and children that poses serious long-term health risks. Recent global estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the number of adolescents living with overweight or obesity is now increasing in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. Health interventions using information technology (IT), especially diet and activity tracking, can lead to significant reductions in weight status.ObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to map IT-supported interventions designed to prevent obesity in adolescents, promoting healthy nutrition and physical activity. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist was used. A search of the electronic databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) was conducted using search terms in various combinations appropriate to the research objective. The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) quality assessment tool was used to assess quality.ResultsA total of 21 English language studies were eligible for inclusion. The systematic review synthesized information on weight control IT-supported intervention trials to prevent obesity, their domains of intervention, implementation setting, digital tool adopted, and the outcomes assessed.ConclusionThe interventions included in the present study mainly concern nutritional aspects and physical activity, but motivational and psychological support also play a fundamental role in their success.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024412913, identifier [CRD42024412913].
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-9f40e57e989843b69b886d03c3a4fc292025-08-20T02:25:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-05-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15845951584595Digital interventions for weight control to prevent obesity in adolescents: a systematic reviewVincenzo De Luca0Michele Virgolesi1Claudia Vetrani2Claudia Vetrani3Sara Aprano4Sara Aprano5Federica Cantelli6Annamaria Di Martino7Lorenzo Mercurio8Guido Iaccarino9Francesco Isgrò10Francesco Isgrò11Pasquale Arpaia12Pasquale Arpaia13Annamaria Colao14Annamaria Colao15Maddalena Illario16Maddalena Illario17Department of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Wellbeing, Nutrition and Sport, Pegaso Telematic University, Naples, ItalyItalian Centre for the Care and Wellbeing of Patients with Obesity, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, ItalyItalian Centre for the Care and Wellbeing of Patients with Obesity, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, ItalyInterdepartmental Research Centre on Healthcare Management and Innovation, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyInterdepartmental Research Centre on Healthcare Management and Innovation, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyInterdepartmental Research Centre on Healthcare Management and Innovation, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyItalian Centre for the Care and Wellbeing of Patients with Obesity, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyInterdepartmental Research Centre on Healthcare Management and Innovation, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyBackgroundObesity is a common, serious, and costly chronic disease of adults and children that poses serious long-term health risks. Recent global estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the number of adolescents living with overweight or obesity is now increasing in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. Health interventions using information technology (IT), especially diet and activity tracking, can lead to significant reductions in weight status.ObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to map IT-supported interventions designed to prevent obesity in adolescents, promoting healthy nutrition and physical activity. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist was used. A search of the electronic databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) was conducted using search terms in various combinations appropriate to the research objective. The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) quality assessment tool was used to assess quality.ResultsA total of 21 English language studies were eligible for inclusion. The systematic review synthesized information on weight control IT-supported intervention trials to prevent obesity, their domains of intervention, implementation setting, digital tool adopted, and the outcomes assessed.ConclusionThe interventions included in the present study mainly concern nutritional aspects and physical activity, but motivational and psychological support also play a fundamental role in their success.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024412913, identifier [CRD42024412913].https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1584595/fulldigital healthobesity preventionadolescentsmHealthnutrition
spellingShingle Vincenzo De Luca
Michele Virgolesi
Claudia Vetrani
Claudia Vetrani
Sara Aprano
Sara Aprano
Federica Cantelli
Annamaria Di Martino
Lorenzo Mercurio
Guido Iaccarino
Francesco Isgrò
Francesco Isgrò
Pasquale Arpaia
Pasquale Arpaia
Annamaria Colao
Annamaria Colao
Maddalena Illario
Maddalena Illario
Digital interventions for weight control to prevent obesity in adolescents: a systematic review
Frontiers in Public Health
digital health
obesity prevention
adolescents
mHealth
nutrition
title Digital interventions for weight control to prevent obesity in adolescents: a systematic review
title_full Digital interventions for weight control to prevent obesity in adolescents: a systematic review
title_fullStr Digital interventions for weight control to prevent obesity in adolescents: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Digital interventions for weight control to prevent obesity in adolescents: a systematic review
title_short Digital interventions for weight control to prevent obesity in adolescents: a systematic review
title_sort digital interventions for weight control to prevent obesity in adolescents a systematic review
topic digital health
obesity prevention
adolescents
mHealth
nutrition
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1584595/full
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