title: Information Technology and Lifestyle: A Systematic Evaluation of Internet and Mobile Interventions for Improving Diet, Physical Activity, Obesity, Tobacco, and Alcohol Use.
abstract: Novel interventions are needed to improve lifestyle and prevent noncommunicable diseases, the leading cause of death and disability globally. This study aimed to systematically review, synthesize, and grade scientific evidence on effectiveness of novel information and communication technology to reduce noncommunicable disease risk.
  
  
  
  We systematically searched PubMed for studies evaluating the effect of Internet, mobile phone, personal sensors, or stand-alone computer software on diet, physical activity, adiposity, tobacco, or alcohol use. We included all interventional and prospective observational studies conducted among generally healthy adults published between January 1990 and November 2013. American Heart Association criteria were used to evaluate and grade the strength of evidence. From 8654 abstracts, 224 relevant reports were identified. Internet and mobile interventions were most common. Internet interventions improved diet (N=20 studies) (Class IIa A), physical activity (N=33), adiposity (N=35), tobacco (N=22), and excess alcohol (N=47) (Class I A each). Mobile interventions improved physical activity (N=6) and adiposity (N=3) (Class I A each). Evidence limitations included relatively brief durations (generally <6 months, nearly always <1 year), heterogeneity in intervention content and intensity, and limited representation from middle/low-income countries.
  
  
  
  Internet and mobile interventions improve important lifestyle behaviors up to 1 year. This systematic review supports the need for long-term interventions to evaluate sustainability.
authors: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA aafshin@uw.edu.
authors: Ashkan
authors: A
authors: Afshin
authors: Saint Joseph Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors: Damilola
authors: D
authors: Babalola
authors: Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science, New York Academy of Sciences, New York, NY.
authors: Mireille
authors: M
authors: Mclean
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors: Zhi
authors: Z
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors: Wenjie
authors: W
authors: Ma
authors: Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Ilan, Taiwan Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan Cardinal Tien College of Healthcare and Management, New Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Cheng-Yu
authors: CY
authors: Chen
authors: Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, New York, NY.
authors: Mandana
authors: M
authors: Arabi
authors: Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
authors: Dariush
authors: D
authors: Mozaffarian
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000628:therapy*; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D000073256:Information Technology; D020407:Internet; D008019:Life Style; D063731:Mobile Applications; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D060145:Text Messaging; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D000073869:Tobacco Smoking / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Internet; alcohol; diet; mobile; obesity; physical activity; smoking