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E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 23515

Special Issue Editors

1. School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
2. Food and Nutrition Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
Interests: nutrition; eating habits; dietary intake; e&mHealth; young adults
1. School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
2. Food and Nutrition Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
Interests: nutrition; dietary assessment; e&mHealth; precision and personalised nutrition; systematic review
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
1. School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
2. Food and Nutrition Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
Interests: dietary assessment; dietary biomarkers; nutrition and dietetics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In order to be effective, dietary interventions must consider an individual or groups’ desired goals and motivations, health status, current eating habits and dietary intake, as well as the methods of delivery required to optimise intervention or treatment effectiveness and cost effectiveness. The delivery methods for dietary interventions must be targeted and tailored to suit specific needs, such as geographical location, accessibility of resources, time and costs. eHealth offers a novel approach to enhance the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of dietary interventions by enabling flexibility to meet many of these needs, and advanced capability to personalise and automate aspects of dietary interventions and resource allocation.

The planned Special Issue seeks to include research regarding eHealth for dietary management, including formative work to inform eHealth dietary interventions, trials of eHealth dietary interventions, cost-effectiveness analyses and systematic reviews or other related papers on the topic of nutrition in e&mHealth.

Dr. Megan Whatnall
Prof. Dr. Clare Collins
Dr. Erin Clarke
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • eHealth
  • diet
  • nutrition
  • dietary assessment
  • dietary intervention
  • cost effectiveness
  • systematic review

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 6881 KiB  
Article
A Tailored and Engaging mHealth Gamified Framework for Nutritional Behaviour Change
by Silvia Orte, Carolina Migliorelli, Laura Sistach-Bosch, Meritxell Gómez-Martínez and Noemi Boqué
Nutrients 2023, 15(8), 1950; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15081950 - 18 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1959
Abstract
Mobile health applications (apps) have been shown to be effective for improving eating habits. However, most of the existing apps rely on calorie and nutrient counting which have several limitations including the difficulty in sustaining long-term use, inaccuracy, and the risk of developing [...] Read more.
Mobile health applications (apps) have been shown to be effective for improving eating habits. However, most of the existing apps rely on calorie and nutrient counting which have several limitations including the difficulty in sustaining long-term use, inaccuracy, and the risk of developing eating disorders. We designed and developed a mHealth framework for nutritional behaviour change, integrated into the CarpeDiem app, that focuses on the intake of key food groups which are known to have a higher impact on health indicators instead of the intake of nutrients. This framework is mainly based on a gamified system that delivers personalized dietary missions to the user and provides motivational recommendations that help the user to achieve these missions. Its design was guided by an evidenced-based theory of behavioural change, the HAPA model, and it is also characterized by the personalization of the system and the use of a recommender system based on advanced artificial intelligence techniques. Overall, the approach used in the present app could foster a sustained improvement of eating habits among the general population, which is the main challenge of dietary interventions, decreasing the risk of developing the chronic diseases associated with unhealthy dietary habits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
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18 pages, 1907 KiB  
Article
Feasibility of an Individualized mHealth Nutrition (iNutrition) Intervention for Post-Discharged Gastric Cancer Patients Following Gastrectomy: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
by Xiaohan Jiang, Jiamin Chen, Xiuhong Yuan, Yijia Lin, Yingliang Chen, Sijia Li, Qiuxiang Jiang, Hong Yu, Qianqian Du and Junsheng Peng
Nutrients 2023, 15(8), 1883; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15081883 - 13 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1696
Abstract
(1) Background: A major challenge for post-discharged gastric cancer patients following gastrectomy is the impact of the anatomy change on decreased oral intake, nutritional status, and, ultimately, quality of life. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects [...] Read more.
(1) Background: A major challenge for post-discharged gastric cancer patients following gastrectomy is the impact of the anatomy change on decreased oral intake, nutritional status, and, ultimately, quality of life. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of an individualized mHealth nutrition (iNutrition) intervention in post-discharged gastric cancer patients following gastrectomy. (2) Methods: A mixed-method feasibility study with a parallel randomized controlled design was conducted. Patients were randomly assigned to either the iNutrition intervention group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 12). Participants completed measures at baseline (T0), four (T1), and twelve weeks (T2) post-randomization. (3) Results: Recruitment (33%) and retention (87.5%) rates along with high adherence and acceptability supported the feasibility of the iNutrition intervention for post-discharged gastric cancer patients following gastrectomy, echoed by the qualitative findings. The iNutrition intervention significantly improved participants’ nutritional behavior (p = 0.005), energy intake (p = 0.038), compliance with energy requirements (p = 0.006), and compliance with protein requirements (p = 0.008). (4) Conclusions: The iNutrition intervention is feasible and potentially benefits post-discharged gastric cancer patients following gastrectomy. A larger trial is required to establish the efficacy of this approach. Trial Registration: 19 October 2022 Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200064807. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
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13 pages, 854 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Modern Approaches for the Assessment of Dietary Carotenoids as Markers for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
by Thorsten Henning, Philipp Wagner, Egbert Gedat, Bastian Kochlik, Paula Kusch, Kay Sowoidnich, Marko Vastag, Jeannine Gleim, Marcel Braune, Martin Maiwald, Bernd Sumpf, Tilman Grune and Daniela Weber
Nutrients 2023, 15(7), 1665; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071665 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1427
Abstract
The assessment of dietary carotenoids via blood measurements has been widely used as a marker for fruit and vegetable consumption. In the present study, modern, non-invasive approaches to assess dietary carotenoids, such as skin measurements and an app-based short dietary record (ASDR), were [...] Read more.
The assessment of dietary carotenoids via blood measurements has been widely used as a marker for fruit and vegetable consumption. In the present study, modern, non-invasive approaches to assess dietary carotenoids, such as skin measurements and an app-based short dietary record (ASDR), were compared with conventional methods such as plasma status and handwritten 3-day dietary records. In an 8-week observational study, 21 healthy participants aged 50–65 years recorded their daily consumption of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables via a specially developed ASDR. Anthropometry, blood samplings and assessment of skin carotenoids via Raman and reflection spectroscopy were performed at baseline, after four weeks and at the end of the study. App-based intake data showed good correlations with plasma α-carotene (r = 0.74, p < 0.0001), β-carotene (r = 0.71, p < 0.0001), and total plasma carotenoids (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001); weak correlations with plasma lutein/zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin (both r = 0.34, p < 0.05); and no correlation with plasma lycopene. Skin measurements via reflection and Raman spectroscopy correlated well with total plasma carotenoids (r = 0.81 and 0.72, respectively; both p < 0.0001), α-carotene (r = 0.75–0.62, p < 0.0001), and β-carotene (r = 0.79–0.71, p < 0.0001); moderately with plasma lutein/zeaxanthin (both r = 0.51, p < 0.0001); weakly with plasma β-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.40–0.31, p < 0.05); and showed no correlation with plasma lycopene. Skin measurements could provide a more convenient and noninvasive approach of estimating a person’s fruit and vegetable consumption compared to traditional methods, especially in studies that do not intend blood sampling. ASDR records might function as a suitable, convenient tool for dietary assessment in nutritional intervention studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
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11 pages, 511 KiB  
Article
Validating Healthy Eating Index, Glycemic Index, and Glycemic Load with Modern Diets for E-Health Era
by Zhao-Feng Chen, Joyce D. Kusuma and Shyang-Yun Pamela K. Shiao
Nutrients 2023, 15(5), 1263; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051263 - 03 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1649
Abstract
Predictors of healthy eating parameters, including the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), Glycemic Index (GI), and Glycemic Load (GL), were examined using various modern diets (n = 131) in preparation for personalized nutrition in the e-health era. Using Nutrition Data Systems for Research computerized [...] Read more.
Predictors of healthy eating parameters, including the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), Glycemic Index (GI), and Glycemic Load (GL), were examined using various modern diets (n = 131) in preparation for personalized nutrition in the e-health era. Using Nutrition Data Systems for Research computerized software and artificial intelligence machine-learning-based predictive validation analyses, we included domains of HEI, caloric source, and various diets as the potentially modifiable factors. HEI predictors included whole fruits and whole grains, and empty calories. Carbohydrates were the common predictor for both GI and GL, with total fruits and Mexican diets being additional predictors for GI. The median amount of carbohydrates to reach an acceptable GL < 20 was predicted as 33.95 g per meal (median: 3.59 meals daily) with a regression coefficient of 37.33 across all daily diets. Diets with greater carbohydrates and more meals needed to reach acceptable GL < 20 included smoothies, convenient diets, and liquids. Mexican diets were the common predictor for GI and carbohydrates per meal to reach acceptable GL < 20; with smoothies (12.04), high-school (5.75), fast-food (4.48), Korean (4.30), Chinese (3.93), and liquid diets (3.71) presenting a higher median number of meals. These findings could be used to manage diets for various populations in the precision-based e-health era. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
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21 pages, 35378 KiB  
Article
Usability Testing an mHealth Program with Tailored Motivational Messages for Early Adolescents
by Carolyn A. Lin, Kayla L. Vosburgh, Deya Roy and Valerie B. Duffy
Nutrients 2023, 15(3), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030574 - 21 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1820
Abstract
Obesity among children is a rising concern throughout the world. In the U.S., rates of childhood obesity are the highest among children from diverse and economically disadvantaged households. Obesity in adolescence increases the risk of negative physical and psychological health consequences. Mobile-app-based health [...] Read more.
Obesity among children is a rising concern throughout the world. In the U.S., rates of childhood obesity are the highest among children from diverse and economically disadvantaged households. Obesity in adolescence increases the risk of negative physical and psychological health consequences. Mobile-app-based health interventions have been found to be an effective tool to encourage children to adopt a healthier living style. A novel mobile app prototype was developed for early adolescents to communicate with and engage them interactively about healthy eating and active living. To test the app’s usability, students from a U.S. middle school, with a majority of children from low-income families, were recruited to use the app and report their feedback. The usability testing results confirmed that the app was equally well received by participants of different genders, normal weight versus overweight/obesity, and amounts of screen time. Study participants also provided overwhelming positive feedback for the embedded and tailored motivational messages that encourage healthy eating and active living. The conceptualization of the app prototype was guided by the self-determination theory, social cognitive theory, and priming theory, in addition to incorporating evidence-based obesity prevention principles. This prototype, hence, provides a valid platform for building theory-based behavioral interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
12 pages, 869 KiB  
Article
Using Social Media to Collect Dietary Information for Public Health Policy
by Catherine Rycroft, Sarah Beer, Nicola Corrigan and Janet Elizabeth Cade
Nutrients 2022, 14(24), 5322; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14245322 - 15 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2049
Abstract
There is no regular, routine measurement of food and nutrient intake regionally in the UK. Our goal was to identify a method to support policy makers tracking the local population food intakes. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of [...] Read more.
There is no regular, routine measurement of food and nutrient intake regionally in the UK. Our goal was to identify a method to support policy makers tracking the local population food intakes. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of using social media to obtain a large sample in a short time, with a regional focus; collecting dietary information using online tools. A Facebook (FB) boost approach was used to recruit a regional (Yorkshire and Humberside) sample of adults to complete a brief online survey followed by a detailed measure of food and nutrient intakes for the previous day using myfood24®. The FB posts were boosted for 21 days and reached 76.9 k individuals. 1428 participants completed the main questionnaire and 673 participants completed the diet diary. The majority of respondents were older women. 22% of respondents reported experiencing moderate food insecurity during 2021. Overall nutrient values recorded were similar to national survey data. Intakes of fibre and iron were low. Despite some challenges, this study has demonstrated the potential to use social media, in this case Facebook, to recruit a large sample in a short timeframe. Participants were able to use online tools to report food and nutrient intakes. This data is relevant to local and national policy makers to monitor and evaluate public health programmes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
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12 pages, 926 KiB  
Article
How Can We Support Healthy Eating in Young Adults with Low Diet Quality? A Survey of Users of the ‘No Money No Time’ Healthy Eating Website
by Megan Whatnall, Lee M. Ashton, Marc T. P. Adam, Hannah McCormick, Erin D. Clarke, Fiona Lavelle, Tracy Burrows, Melinda Hutchesson and Clare E. Collins
Nutrients 2022, 14(24), 5218; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14245218 - 07 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2455
Abstract
Nutrition interventions to support young adults are needed due to low diet quality. The aims were to explore the (1) circumstances and (2) barriers regarding dietary habits of the young adult users of the No Money No Time (NMNT) healthy eating website with [...] Read more.
Nutrition interventions to support young adults are needed due to low diet quality. The aims were to explore the (1) circumstances and (2) barriers regarding dietary habits of the young adult users of the No Money No Time (NMNT) healthy eating website with the lowest diet quality scores. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from August–September 2022 with a sample of NMNT users aged 18–35 years with low diet quality (defined as Healthy Eating Quiz score 0–38/73). The survey included demographics (e.g., gender), circumstances (6-item US Food Security Survey, Cooking and Food Skills Confidence Measures), and challenges and resources used in relation to healthy eating (open-responses). Theoretical thematic analysis was used to analyse open-response questions and derive main themes. The study sample (n = 108; 71.3% female, median age 28; 28.7% food insecure) had a mean (standard deviation) Cooking Skills score 70.2 (17.5)/98, and median (interquartile range) Food Skills score 96.0 (83.5–107.5)/133. The main challenges regarding healthy eating were (1) time and (2) cost, and the main resources to support healthy eating were (1) online resources (e.g., websites, Google) and (2) recipes. Findings identify possible targets for future interventions to support healthy eating in this vulnerable group (e.g., supporting cooking and food skills). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
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12 pages, 1302 KiB  
Article
Young Australian Adults Prefer Video Posts for Dissemination of Nutritional Information over the Social Media Platform Instagram: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Survey
by Virginia Chan and Margaret Allman-Farinelli
Nutrients 2022, 14(20), 4382; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14204382 - 19 Oct 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2235
Abstract
Growing social media use in young adults may have applications in health promotion. This study aimed to determine the acceptability and feasibility of using Instagram to disseminate nutritional information to young Australians and assess the most preferred post style. A cross-sectional web-based pilot [...] Read more.
Growing social media use in young adults may have applications in health promotion. This study aimed to determine the acceptability and feasibility of using Instagram to disseminate nutritional information to young Australians and assess the most preferred post style. A cross-sectional web-based pilot survey was conducted in 18–30-year-olds residing in New South Wales. Eight sets of mock Instagram posts were generated comprising three formats: (i) text/icon, (ii) realistic image, or (iii) video. Respondents (n = 108) were asked to review and rank posts from highest to lowest according to likelihood of engagement, visual preference, motivation to change eating behaviors, and relevancy of information. The Friedman test (Wilcoxon signed-rank test post hoc analysis with Bonferroni correction) was conducted to determine differences between the three post styles. Video style posts were more likely to be engaged with (p < 0.001), visually preferred (p < 0.001), more motivating to change eating behaviors (p < 0.001), and presented the most relevant food and nutrition knowledge (p < 0.001) compared with the other post styles. Most participants reported that Instagram was a suitable platform to share food and nutrition information (96%). The findings of this pilot study can be used to inform a large study that investigates the use of Instagram among a more diverse population and with a greater number of video posts tailored for audience segmentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
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15 pages, 2119 KiB  
Article
COVID-19 and Virtual Nutrition: A Pilot Study of Integrating Digital Food Models for Interactive Portion Size Education
by Dang Khanh Ngan Ho, Yu-Chieh Lee, Wan-Chun Chiu, Yi-Ta Shen, Chih-Yuan Yao, Hung-Kuo Chu, Wei-Ta Chu, Nguyen Quoc Khanh Le, Hung Trong Nguyen, Hsiu-Yueh Su and Jung-Su Chang
Nutrients 2022, 14(16), 3313; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14163313 - 12 Aug 2022
Viewed by 2088
Abstract
Background and aims: Digital food viewing is a vital skill for connecting dieticians to e-health. The aim of this study was to integrate a novel pedagogical framework that combines interactive three- (3-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) food models into a formal dietetic training course. [...] Read more.
Background and aims: Digital food viewing is a vital skill for connecting dieticians to e-health. The aim of this study was to integrate a novel pedagogical framework that combines interactive three- (3-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) food models into a formal dietetic training course. The level of agreement between the digital food models (first semester) and the effectiveness of educational integration of digital food models during the school closure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (second semester) were evaluated. Method: In total, 65 second-year undergraduate dietetic students were enrolled in a nutritional practicum course at the School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University (Taipei, Taiwan). A 3-D food model was created using Agisoft Metashape. Students’ digital food viewing skills and receptiveness towards integrating digital food models were evaluated. Results: In the first semester, no statistical differences were observed between 2-D and 3-D food viewing skills in food identification (2-D: 89% vs. 3-D: 85%) and quantification (within ±10% difference in total calories) (2-D: 19.4% vs. 3-D: 19.3%). A Spearman correlation analysis showed moderate to strong correlations of estimated total calories (0.69~0.93; all p values < 0.05) between the 3-D and 2-D models. Further analysis showed that students who struggled to master both 2-D and 3-D food viewing skills had lower estimation accuracies than those who did not (equal performers: 28% vs. unequal performers:16%, p = 0.041), and interactive 3-D models may help them perform better than 2-D models. In the second semester, the digital food viewing skills significantly improved (food identification: 91.5% and quantification: 42.9%) even for those students who struggled to perform digital food viewing skills equally in the first semester (equal performers: 44% vs. unequal performers: 40%). Conclusion: Although repeated training greatly enhanced students’ digital food viewing skills, a tailored training program may be needed to master 2-D and 3-D digital food viewing skills. Future study is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital food models for future “eHealth” care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
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15 pages, 1463 KiB  
Article
Validating Accuracy of an Internet-Based Application against USDA Computerized Nutrition Data System for Research on Essential Nutrients among Social-Ethnic Diets for the E-Health Era
by Ya-Ling Yang, Hsiao-Ling Yang, Joyce D. Kusuma and Shyang-Yun Pamela Koong Shiao
Nutrients 2022, 14(15), 3168; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14153168 - 31 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1766
Abstract
Internet-based applications (apps) are rapidly developing in the e-Health era to assess the dietary intake of essential macro-and micro-nutrients for precision nutrition. We, therefore, validated the accuracy of an internet-based app against the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR), assessing these essential nutrients [...] Read more.
Internet-based applications (apps) are rapidly developing in the e-Health era to assess the dietary intake of essential macro-and micro-nutrients for precision nutrition. We, therefore, validated the accuracy of an internet-based app against the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR), assessing these essential nutrients among various social-ethnic diet types. The agreement between the two measures using intraclass correlation coefficients was good (0.85) for total calories, but moderate for caloric ranges outside of <1000 (0.75) and >2000 (0.57); and good (>0.75) for most macro- (average: 0.85) and micro-nutrients (average: 0.83) except cobalamin (0.73) and calcium (0.51). The app underestimated nutrients that are associated with protein and fat (protein: −5.82%, fat: −12.78%, vitamin B12: −13.59%, methionine: −8.76%, zinc: −12.49%), while overestimated nutrients that are associated with carbohydrate (fiber: 6.7%, B9: 9.06%). Using artificial intelligence analytics, we confirmed the factors that could contribute to the differences between the two measures for various essential nutrients, and they included caloric ranges; the differences between the two measures for carbohydrates, protein, and fat; and diet types. For total calories, as an example, the source factors that contributed to the differences between the two measures included caloric range (<1000 versus others), fat, and protein; for cobalamin: protein, American, and Japanese diets; and for folate: caloric range (<1000 versus others), carbohydrate, and Italian diet. In the e-Health era, the internet-based app has the capacity to enhance precision nutrition. By identifying and integrating the effects of potential contributing factors in the algorithm of output readings, the accuracy of new app measures could be improved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
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Review

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19 pages, 741 KiB  
Review
A Rapid Review of the Impact of Family-Based Digital Interventions for Obesity Prevention and Treatment on Obesity-Related Outcomes in Primary School-Aged Children
by Li Kheng Chai, Rebecca Farletti, Leila Fathi and Robyn Littlewood
Nutrients 2022, 14(22), 4837; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14224837 - 15 Nov 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2906
Abstract
Virtual delivery of obesity prevention and treatment programs may be effective for supporting children and families to adopt healthy lifestyle changes while enhancing program accessibility. This rapid review aimed to summarize the impact of family-based digital interventions for childhood obesity prevention and treatment. [...] Read more.
Virtual delivery of obesity prevention and treatment programs may be effective for supporting children and families to adopt healthy lifestyle changes while enhancing program accessibility. This rapid review aimed to summarize the impact of family-based digital interventions for childhood obesity prevention and treatment. Four databases were searched up to February 2021 for trials of interactive digital programs aimed to prevent and/or treat obesity in children aged 5–12 years and reported diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, or weight-related outcomes in children. A total of 23 publications (from 18 interventions) were included. Behavior change theories were used in 13 interventions with “Social Cognitive Theory” applied most frequently (n = 9). Interventions included websites (n = 11), text messaging (n = 5), video gaming (n = 2), Facebook (n = 3), and/or mobile applications (n = 2). Studies reported changes in body mass index (BMI; n = 11 studies), diet (n = 11), physical activity (n = 10), screen time (n = 6), and/or sleep (n = 1). Significant improvements were reported for diet (n = 5) or physical activity (n = 4). Two of the six interventions were effective in reducing screen time. Digital interventions have shown modest improvements in child BMI and significant effectiveness in diet and physical activity, with emerging evidence supporting the use of social media and video gaming to enhance program delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-health: A Novel Approach for Dietary Interventions)
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