JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The range of benefits associated with regular physical activity participation are irrefutable. Despite the well-known benefits, physical inactivity remains one of the major contributing factors to ill-health throughout industrialised countries. Traditional lifestyle interventions such as group education sessions or telephone counselling are effective at increasing physical activity participation, however physical activity levels tend to decline over time. Wearable activity trackers that allow users to objectively monitor activity levels are now widely available and may offer an alternative method for assisting individuals to remain physically active.

Objective:

This review aims to determine the effects of interventions utilising consumer-based wearable activity trackers on physical activity participation and sedentary behaviour when compared to interventions that do not utilise activity tracker feedback.

Methods:

A systematic review was performed searching the following databases for studies that included the use of an activity tracker to improve physical activity participation: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINHAL, SPORTDiscus and HTA. Controlled trials of adults comparing the use of an activity tracker to other non-activity tracker based interventions were included. The main outcome measures were physical activity participation and sedentary behaviour. All studies were assessed for risk of bias and the GRADE system was used to rank the quality of evidence. The guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement were followed. A random-effects meta-analyses was completed on the included outcome measures to estimate the treatment effect of interventions that included an activity tracker compared to a control group.

Results:

There was a significant increase in daily step count (SMD: 0.24; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.33; p=<0.0001), MVPA (SMD: 0.27; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.39; p=<0.0001) and energy expenditure (SMD 0.28; 95%CI 0.03 to 0.54; p=0.03) and a non-significant decrease in sedentary behaviour (SMD -0.20; 95% CI -0.43 to 0.03; p=0.08) following the intervention versus control comparator across all studies in the meta-analyses.

Conclusions:

Utilising an activity tracker as either the primary component of an intervention or as part of a broader physical activity intervention has the potential to increase physical activity participation. As the effects of physical activity interventions are often short-term, the inclusion of an activity tracker may provide an effective tool to assist health professionals to provide ongoing monitoring and support.