SynthesisPloS one2022
Middle-aged and older adults' acceptance of mobile nutrition and fitness apps: A systematic mixed studies review.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Digital health interventions for promoting adults lifestyle behaviors: who is being left behind? An evidence synthesis of social inequality.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2026Pooled it
- The Application of Mobile Health in Self-Management Among Patients Undergoing Dialysis: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Effectiveness of MyKidEye in improving parents' knowledge, attitude, and practice on children eye health care.PloS one · 2026Article
- "Why would I need more?": How age shapes UK consumers' perceptions of dietary protein and responses to educational interventions.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Older adults' acceptability and perceived barriers to digital health tools integrating nutrition and physical activity: a focus group study.Frontiers in digital health · 2026Article
- Digital health interventions for improving nutritional behaviors in older adults: a scoping review.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
- Exploring digital health: a qualitative study on adults' experiences with health apps and wearables.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2025Article
- The Impact of Mobile Health Literacy, Socioeconomic Factors, and Engagement Patterns on DiabetesXcel App Usage in Adults.Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders · 2025Article
- Multidimensional determinants of active and healthy aging trajectories: a position paper from the Age-It Research Program.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2025Article
- Smartphone Apps and Wearables for Health Parameters in Young Adulthood: Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR human factors · 2025Article
- Umbrella review of social inequality in digital interventions targeting dietary and physical activity behaviors.NPJ digital medicine · 2025Article
- MobileMen: the development of a mobile application to promote physical activity in African American men.mHealth · 2025Article
- Using artificial intelligence for exercise prescription in personalised health promotion: A critical evaluation of OpenAI's GPT-4 model.Biology of sport · 2024Article
- Importance-performance analysis in fitness apps. A study from the viewpoint of gender and age.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Middle-aged and older adults' acceptance of mobile nutrition and fitness tools: A qualitative typology.Digital healthArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTo promote healthy aging, the support of digital mobile health tools such as mobile applications (apps) addressing a healthy diet or physical activity appears promising, particularly when initiated before entering old age. For such tools to be effective, middle-aged and older adults' acceptance need to be studied in depth.
objectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to provide an integrative synthesis of the current state of research regarding the question in how far middle-aged and older adults (people aged 50 years and above) accept mobile nutrition and fitness apps to gain a deeper understanding of the influencing factors shaping this target group's usage behaviour and needs.
methodsThe review process followed the PRISMA guidelines. The databases Medline, Embase, Web of Science as well as reference lists were systematically searched. Study quality was assessed using the MMAT and AXIS appraisal tools. Data of the included studies were extracted and thereupon narratively synthesized, involving thematic analysis.
resultsOf N = 8823 articles screened, n = 7 studies could be identified-five quantitative, cross-sectional ones and two qualitative studies. Overall, the synthesized findings showed a lower acceptance among middle-aged and older adults compared to younger populations, which was particularly reflected in lower usage rates and more negative attitudes towards such apps (e.g., Perceived usefulness, Ease of use). The target group's acceptance of fitness apps was greater compared to nutrition apps. Findings on contextual factors and social determinants were inconsistent (e.g., regarding gender differences).
conclusionWhile cross-study comparability was limited, the synthesized evidence underscores the importance to target mobile nutrition and fitness apps to the distinctive and heterogeneous needs of middle-aged and, particularly, of older adults. The scarcity of the existing body of knowledge highlights the need of further (longitudinal) research. PROSPERO PROTOCOL REGISTER NUMBER: CRD42020159409.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.