The effect of the use of a physical-activity mobile application on body composition and sleep quality of overweight children

Freitas, Fábio de; Silva, Cleliani de Cássia da; Mendes, Ronaldo Lopes Rodrigues; Antônio, Maria Ângela Reis de Góes Monteiro; Zambon, Mariana Porto

doi:10.1590/1806-9282.20200763

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 16 publications

(18 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Muscle mass increased significantly in the experimental group, while in the control group no significant changes were observed. Previous research conducted in overweight children showed similar results, with increases in muscle mass after the use of the app (De Freitas et al, 2021 ). However, both the experimental and control groups presented greater corrected thigh girth, but the change between pre and post measurements was significantly higher in the experimental group.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Mandatory after-school use of step tracker apps improves physical activity, body composition and fitness of adolescents

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Previous scientific research on the use of mobile applications to increase physical activity level and improve health among adolescents does not provide conclusive results, one of the main reasons being the lack of adherence to the intervention after the first weeks. For this reason, the main objectives of the research were to determine the changes produced by a compulsory ten-week period of after-school intervention with mobile step-tracking applications on adolescents’ health; and the final objective to compare the benefits obtained by each of the mobile applications. To meet the objectives, a longitudinal study with non-probability convenience sampling was proposed. The sample consisted of 400 adolescents from two public compulsory secondary schools in the Region of Murcia, Spain, whose body composition, level of physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and physical fitness were measured. The SPSS statistical software was used for statistical analysis. The results showed that adolescents in the experimental group showed a higher level of physical activity and better body composition and physical fitness variables after the intervention compared to the control group, with differences between the different applications used. In conclusion, this research shows the usefulness of mobile applications if they are used in a compulsory way after school hours. The relevance of these results for policymakers lies in the fact that they provide statistical data on the usefulness of mobile applications as an educational resource, being an option to make up for the lack of sufficient physical education teaching hours to meet global physical activity recommendations.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Mandatory after-school use of step tracker apps improves physical activity, body composition and fitness of adolescents

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Gender and academic year as moderators of the efficacy of mobile app interventions to promote physical activity in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial

Mateo-Orcajada,

Vaquero-Cristóbal,

Abenza-Cano

2023

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

No previous study has analyzed the differences in the effectiveness of an intervention with mobile applications, according to gender and academic year, on the level of physical activity, body composition, and physical fitness of adolescents. For this reason, the aim of the present investigation was to establish the differences in the change in level of physical activity, kinanthropometric and derived variables, and fitness with an intervention to promote physical activity base on the use of mobile applications in adolescents according to gender and academic year. A randomized controlled trial was carried out with a 10-week intervention with mobile applications that was promoted by the physical education department of the school. The final sample consisted of 400 adolescents (210 males and 190 females; mean age: 13.96 ± 1.21 years). A total of 240 adolescents were placed in the experimental group, and 160 were placed in the control group. Physical activity, body composition and physical fitness were measured before (pre) and after the intervention (post). During the intervention, four apps were mandatory used by the adolescents (Strava, Pacer, MapMyWalk, Pokémon Go) a minimum of three times a week. The distance to be traveled increased weekly during the intervention. The control group did not use the apps but continued to perform their physical activities as normal. The results showed that the use of mobile apps was higher in females (p < 0.001; 71.1% females vs 50.0% males) and adolescents in higher academic year (p < 0.001; 74.4% fourth academic year vs 53.8% first academic year). Moreover, the use of the apps prevented the increase of variables related to fat accumulation (body mass index (BMI), fat mass, sum 3 skinfolds, waist, and hips girths). Specifically, the differences between male and female were significant in BMI (p < 0.001; mean diff: −0.352), corrected calf girth (p = 0.008; mean diff: −0.498), fat mass (p = 0.025; mean diff: 0.748), handgrip right (p = 0.002; mean diff: −1.359), handgrip left (p = 0.002; mean diff: −1.103), and countermovement jump (p = 0.002; mean diff: −2.456), while when considering academic year, differences were significant in height (p < 0.001–0.044; mean diff: −1.099 to −0.509), sum of 3 skinfolds (p = 0.046–0.047; mean diff: −3.255), waist girth (p = 0.048; mean diff: 0.584), hip girth (p < 0.001–0.008; mean diff: −1.461 to −0.777), corrected calf girth (p = 0.019–0.029; mean diff: −0.539 to −0.482), and fat mass (p = 0.025–0.046; mean diff: 1.011 to −1.392). It can be concluded that mobile apps can be a great alternative to promote the practice of physical activity, decrease of fat variables, and improve some physical fitness variables, especially in females and adolescents in higher academic year. As a consequence of the above, gender and academic year should be considered in future interventions with mobile apps, as the effects in kinanthropometric and derived variables, and fitness and the follow-up of the intervention by adolescents may be different depending on these factors. The research protocol was registered prior to the start of the study in ClinicalTrials.gov (code: NCT04860128), under the name “New technologies as a tool for health promotion in schoolchildren of compulsory secondary education”. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04860128?term=NCT04860128&draw=2&rank=1.

show abstract

The effect of the use of a physical-activity mobile application on body composition and sleep quality of overweight children

Cited by 2 publications

References 16 publications

Mandatory after-school use of step tracker apps improves physical activity, body composition and fitness of adolescents

Mandatory after-school use of step tracker apps improves physical activity, body composition and fitness of adolescents

Gender and academic year as moderators of the efficacy of mobile app interventions to promote physical activity in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About