SynthesisFrontiers in public health2025
Digital technology empowers exercise health management in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of mHealth-based interventions on physical activity and body composition in older adults.
Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effectiveness of different modes of digital health interventions for sarcopenia in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMC geriatrics · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of Multicomponent Digital Health Interventions on Multidimensional Physical Activity in Older Adults: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression of Randomized Controlled Trials.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Pooled it
- Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions for physical activity: a systematic review of their public health impact and methodological quality.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Impact of digital Tai Chi interventions on the physical and mental health of older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of digital health interventions on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical function in older adults with sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- Arabic Wellness Apps in the MENA Region and Saudi Arabia: Current Evidence and Systematic Evaluation.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Enhancing Psychological Health and Weight-Related Behaviors in Older Adults Through Digital Interventions: Findings from theClinical gerontologist · 2026Article
- Technology-Driven Group Exercise Program Implementation in an Underserved Community: Multimethod Retrospective Evaluation Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies · 2026Article
- Step by step: promoting daily walking through a mHealth intervention.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Mobile health apps for older adults: real-world evidence on engagement and medication adherence.Frontiers in digital health · 2026Article
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Prolonged Sedentary behavior (SB) and lack of Physical Activity (PA) in the older population significantly increase the risk of chronic disease development. The use of mobile health (mHealth) apps may have a positive impact on older adults, helping to increase their physical activity levels and optimize body composition. However, the effectiveness of mHealth-based interventions and potential moderators in this population is not fully understood. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a mHealth-based intervention in promoting PA/moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), reducing SB, and lowering body mass index (BMI) in older adults. The moderating effects of the mHealth intervention effects were also explored through subgroup analysis. Method: This study searched Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases (as of June 2025) to include randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluating the effects of mHealth on PA, MVPA, SB, and BMI in older adults. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random effects models. Results: A total of 14 RCTs were included (sample size = 2,511). mHealth intervention significantly elevated PA (SMD = 0.18, 95%CI: 0.01 to 0.35) and MVPA (SMD = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.20 to 0.75) and reduced SB (SMD = -0.55, 95% CI: -0.79 to -0.32), but no significant improvement in BMI (SMD = -0.27, 95% CI: -0.79 to 0.25). Subgroup analyses showed that: Commercial applications were better than research-based applications (PA: SMD = 0.18 vs. 0.07; MVPA: SMD = 0.70 vs. 0.31); more than 3 behavior change techniques (BCTs) interventions were effective for MVPA enhancement (SMD = 0.49) and SB reduction (SMD = -0.77); and the use of a theory paradigm intervention was more effective on SB reduction (SMD = -0.77 vs. 0.38). Conclusion: mHealth apps were effective in increasing PA/MVPA levels and reducing SB levels in older adults, but did not reach statistical significance in terms of BMI improvement. Through subgroup analyses, this study further found that commercial apps demonstrated greater strengths in promoting PA/MVPA; meanwhile, integrating more than 3 BCTs synergistically promoted MVPA levels and reduced SB.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.