Mobile health e excesso de peso: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the impact of using mobile health (mHealth) technologiesthe practice of medicine or public health through mobile devices, such as mobile phones-on the prevention of weight gain or treatment of overweight or obesity.Methods. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PubMed database and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Intervention studies evaluating the impact of mHealth technologies were selected on the following anthropometric measures: weight, body mass index, or waist circumference in adults.Results. Out of 98 articles retrieved, 14 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. Of these, only two evaluated the prevention of weight gain instead of the treatment of overweight or obesity. mHealth technologies had a positive effect on anthropometric outcomes in 13 articles. Only one article reported no effects on the group that used these technologies. Eight articles reported impact on BMI, and seven on waist circumference. Mobile phones were the most common mHealth device, used mainly for text messages.Conclusions. mHealth technologies have the potential to be used as tools for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity, particularly with mobile phones and texting, which are already used daily by most of the population.