Effects of Parent-Involved Digital Health Interventions on Adiposity-Related Outcomes and Behaviors in Children and Adolescents With Overweight or Obesity: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Yuan Zheng, Jiafu Huang, Yuhang Peng et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined randomized controlled trials of parent-involved digital health interventions for children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. Across 22 trials in the meta-analysis, interventions were associated with a small reduction in BMI-related outcomes compared with controls (SMD=-0.11, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.04; P=.004; I²=0%). The effect was significant against inactive controls but not active controls. Behavioral outcomes improved in only a minority of trials, and analyses did not establish a superior digital delivery modality or parent-involvement strategy. The authors rated certainty for BMI-related outcomes as moderate.
Key findings
- Across 22 trials, BMI-related outcomes improved modestly versus controls (SMD=-0.11, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.04; P=.004; I²=0%).
- Effects were significant with inactive controls (SMD=-0.15, 95% CI -0.25 to -0.04; P=.006) but not active controls (SMD=-0.07, 95% CI -0.19 to 0.04; P=.20).
- Significant behavioral improvements were reported in 5 of 16 dietary-behavior trials, 2 of 17 physical-activity trials, and 2 of 12 sedentary-behavior trials.
- Differences by digital delivery modality or parent-involvement strategy were not statistically significant.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that involving parents in digital interventions may contribute to a modest improvement in BMI-related outcomes for young people with overweight or obesity. However, the limited behavioral findings and lack of clear differences between intervention approaches leave uncertainty about how these programs achieve benefit and which components are most useful.
What to keep in mind
Behavioral outcomes were synthesized narratively, and significant improvements appeared in only a minority of trials. The review did not establish an optimal delivery modality or parent-involvement strategy.