title: [Electronic media in obesity prevention in childhood and adolescence].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is - amongst other factors - due to changed leisure time habits with decreased physical activity and increased media consumption. However, electronic media such as tablets and smartphones might also provide a novel intervention approach to prevent obesity in childhood and adolescence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A summary of interventions applying electronic media to prevent childhood obesity is provided to investigate short term effects as well as long term results of these interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed/Web of Science to identify randomized and/or controlled studies that have investigated the efficacy of electronic media for obesity prevention below the age of 18.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 909 studies were identified, and 88 studies were included in the analysis. Active video games did increase physical activity compared to inactive games when applied within a peer group. Interventions via telephone had positive effects on certain lifestyle-relevant behaviours. Interventions via mobile were shown to decrease dropout rates by sending regular SMS messages. To date, interventions via smartphones are scarce for adolescents; however, they might improve cardiorespiratory fitness. The results from internet-based interventions showed a trend towards positive effects on lifestyle-relevant behaviors. The combination of different electronic media did not show superior results compared to interventions with only one medium. Interventions via TV, DVD or video-based interventions may increase physical activity when offered as an incentive, however, effects on weight status were not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children and adolescents currently grow up in a technology- and media-rich society with computers, tablets, smartphones, etc. used daily. Thus, interventions applying electronic media to prevent childhood obesity are contemporary. Available studies applying electronic media are however heterogeneous in terms of applied medium and duration. Positive effects on body composition were not observed, but only on certain lifestyle-relevant behaviours. In addition, these effects could only be seen in the short term. Follow-up data are currently scarce.
authors.affiliation: IFB Adipositas Erkrankungen, Universitätsmedizin Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 27, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland. susann.blueher@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Susann
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weihrauch-Blüher
authors.affiliation: IFB Adipositas Erkrankungen, Universitätsmedizin Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 27, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koormann
authors.affiliation: Interdisziplinäres SPZ, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brauchmann
authors.affiliation: Interdisziplinäres SPZ, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiegand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019212:Multimedia / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018910:Video Games / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent; Child; Electronic media; Obesity prevention; Randomized-controlled trial