Affiliation:
1. Department of Basic Education, Zhejiang Tongji Vocational College of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, China
2. Department of Sports and Exercise Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
3. Department of Military and Sports, Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Hangzhou, China
Abstract
Background Children and adolescents who are overweight and obese represent a growing public health issue. The use of step-monitoring devices as an intervention tool may be a simple, cost-effective, and easily replicable solution for addressing obesity in children and adolescents. No prior systematic reviews have evaluated the effectiveness of utilizing step-monitoring devices as an intervention method for obesity in children and adolescents. Methods Previous studies on using step-monitoring devices to prevent and treat obesity in children and adolescents were identified in the following databases: Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and SCOPUS. The search period for each database ranged from the year of their inception to 8 March 2023 (updated in June 2024). Meta-analyses were performed for mean differences (MDs) in body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score (BMI-Z), body fat, waist circumference, and body weight. Results From 12,907 relevant records, 23 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The included studies were mainly at low risk of bias, except for blinding. Step-monitoring device-based interventions had significant effects in reducing BMI-Z (MD −0.06; 95% CI −0.10 to −0.02), body fat (MD −0.95%; 95% CI −1.35 to −0.54), and body weight (MD −1.23 kg; 95% CI −2.36 to −0.10). However, there was no significant effect on BMI (MD −0.16 kg/m2; 95% CI −0.55 to 0.22) and waist circumference (MD −0.33 cm; 95% CI −1.23 to 0.58). Subgroup analyses indicated that participants who were overweight or obese showed greater intervention effects on BMI and BMI-Z compared to participants with normal weight. The programs with an intervention duration of ≤6 months presented a greater intervention effect on BMI-Z than those with an intervention duration of more than 6 months. The programs that established goals had a greater intervention effect on body fat than those that did not. Conclusions Step-monitoring devices may be an effective and generalizable intervention tool for the prevention and treatment of obesity in children and adolescents. Future studies should further explore how to set step goals and the duration of interventions to achieve better intervention effects.
Funder
a Project Supported by Scientific Research Fund of Zhejiang Provincial Education Department
The Ministry of Education 2022 General Project of Specific Research by Ideological and Political Theory Course Teachers
a "Faculty Professional Development Program" for domestic visiting scholars in colleges and universities in 2023
a project of scientific research cultivation at the provincial and ministerial level or above