Evidence mapPaperPMID 40487516Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2025

Digital interventions for weight control to prevent obesity in adolescents: a systematic review.

Vincenzo De Luca, Michele Virgolesi, Claudia Vetrani, Sara Aprano, Federica Cantelli, Annamaria Di Martino, Lorenzo Mercurio, Guido Iaccarino, Francesco Isgrò, Pasquale Arpaia and 2 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Trial
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Vincenzo De LucaDepartment of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Michele VirgolesiDepartment of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Claudia VetraniDepartment of Wellbeing, Nutrition and Sport, Pegaso Telematic University, Naples, Italy.
Sara ApranoItalian Centre for the Care and Wellbeing of Patients with Obesity, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Federica CantelliDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Annamaria Di MartinoDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Lorenzo MercurioDepartment of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Guido IaccarinoDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Francesco IsgròInterdepartmental Research Centre on Healthcare Management and Innovation, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Pasquale ArpaiaInterdepartmental Research Centre on Healthcare Management and Innovation, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Annamaria ColaoItalian Centre for the Care and Wellbeing of Patients with Obesity, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Maddalena IllarioDepartment of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a common, serious, and costly chronic disease of adults and children that poses serious long-term health risks. Recent global estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the number of adolescents living with overweight or obesity is now increasing in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. Health interventions using information technology (IT), especially diet and activity tracking, can lead to significant reductions in weight status. Objective: This systematic review aimed to map IT-supported interventions designed to prevent obesity in adolescents, promoting healthy nutrition and physical activity. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist was used. A search of the electronic databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) was conducted using search terms in various combinations appropriate to the research objective. The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) quality assessment tool was used to assess quality. Results: A total of 21 English language studies were eligible for inclusion. The systematic review synthesized information on weight control IT-supported intervention trials to prevent obesity, their domains of intervention, implementation setting, digital tool adopted, and the outcomes assessed. Conclusion: The interventions included in the present study mainly concern nutritional aspects and physical activity, but motivational and psychological support also play a fundamental role in their success. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024412913, identifier [CRD42024412913].

Indexed as

Digital TechnologyHealth PromotionPediatric ObesityAdolescentExerciseFemaleHumansMaleadolescentsdigital healthmHealthnutritionobesity prevention

Identifiers

PMID40487516
PMCPMC12141215

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.