Abstract:
Introduction: Online social networks and app-based interventions are gradually becoming popular means of health promotion. Physical activity schedules, programs, and examples are found online, and they can be specified using the web-based application software. The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of the social media/web based exercise interventions in increasing physical activity.
Methods: A systematic review of the existing body of literature materials on the scope of this study was conducted via PubMed where five sources were identified for this review.
Results: In the study of the efficacy of a walking intervention using social media to increase physical activity, it was determined that women in the social support group had their steps per day increase significantly. Another study noted an increase in the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MPVA) by 135 minutes because of increased walking time. Similarly, another study observed higher physical activity in the respondents who used ‘OurSpace’ application software. Finally, social media networks were found to increase enrollment in physical activity programs followed by moderate exercise activities from a relatively sedentary life before the enrollment.
Discussion: Social media/application software-based interventions demonstrated significant effectiveness in increasing health activity. Even so, these results were on a short-term basis, precisely, during the studies or a few days after. However, in comparison with education-only controls, the social media or application software based interventions performed dismally. Even so, the interventions outperformed promotional messages.