Umbrella review of social inequality in digital interventions targeting dietary and physical activity behaviors

Laura M König; Max J Western; Andrea H Denton; Rebecca A Krukowski

doi:10.1038/s41746-024-01405-0

Umbrella review of social inequality in digital interventions targeting dietary and physical activity behaviors

NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Jan 6;8(1):11. doi: 10.1038/s41746-024-01405-0.

Authors

Laura M König¹, Max J Western², Andrea H Denton³, Rebecca A Krukowski⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. [email protected].
² Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
³ Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
⁴ Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Abstract

Digital interventions are increasingly utilized as a lever to promote population health, yet not everyone may equally benefit from them. This umbrella review pooled the insights from available systematic and scoping reviews regarding potential social inequalities in digital intervention uptake, engagement and effectiveness, focusing on the promotion of weight-related behaviors (diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior) and weight loss (maintenance) in adults. Six databases were searched from 1970 to October 2023. Forty-six reviews were included, of which most focused on physical activity and intervention effectiveness. Age and gender/ sex differences were most frequently studied. Most reviews found digital interventions to be effective irrespective of age, while men benefitted more from digital interventions than women. Other inequality indicators (e.g., income, education) were rarely studied, despite them being potential causes of a digital divide. A more systematic and thorough exploration of inequalities in digital health is required to promote health for all.

Abstract

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