Systematic review and meta analysis of standalone digital behavior change interventions on physical activity

Abstract

Physical inactivity contributes to chronic diseases globally. Digital behavior change interventions (DBCIs) offer scalable solutions, but previous meta-analyses often combined them with other interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the standalone effects of DBCIs on physical activity (PA) and body metrics in adults. We searched five databases and included 18 randomized controlled trials. Standalone DBCIs significantly improved PA (SMD = 0.324; low-certainty evidence) and body metrics (SMD = 0.269; moderate-certainty evidence). PA improvements were greater in adults with unhealthy conditions compared to healthy individuals. Body metrics improvements were more pronounced in healthy adults. Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these findings. Publication bias and risk of bias downgraded the certainty of evidence to low for PA and moderate for body metrics. These results suggest standalone DBCIs can promote PA and weight management, but further high-quality trials and tailored strategies are needed based on health status.