![]() ![]() Globally, it is also estimated that poor diets are responsible for 22% of all adult deaths, with the main unhealthy dietary factors identified as high sodium intakes and low intakes of wholegrains and fruits. ![]() However, one in four adults (age 18 and older) and three in four adolescents (age 11–17) worldwide do not currently meet the global recommendations for physical activity set by the WHO. Engaging in regular physical activity and consuming a healthy diet can lead to a reduction in the burden of non-communicable diseases and improve daily functioning, mental health and wellbeing. Interventions that improve physical activity and diet-related behaviours are of vital importance in optimising public health. As such, there is a gap in research and policy that leaves researchers, practitioners, and individual users ill-equipped to optimise the potential benefits of social media in promoting and supporting healthy physical activity and diet-related behaviours. However, there is currently no guidance available for policy makers, professionals or organisations on how to responsibly and effectively use social media in physical activity and diet interventions, and there is little robust evidence on how social media interventions inform changes to behaviours related to physical activity and diet. Across international contexts there is also evidence that social media is being used in education, clinical, workplace and community settings to influence physical activity and dietary behaviours in young people and adults. Similarly, Public Health England’s social marketing strategy emphasised the use of social media to target diverse groups more effectively, engage populations and support health-related behaviour changes. For example, the recent World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Action Plan for Physical Activity identified the potential of social media to reach and target large audiences to promote physical activity engagement. Social media is positioned as a powerful medium to reach, influence and change physical activity and diet-related behaviours. Registration number: PROPSERO CRD42020210806. This study had some limitations that mainly relate to variation in study design, over-reliance of self-reported measures and sample characteristics, that prevented comparative analysis. gamification, multi-model application, image sharing/editing, group chats) that can be used by policy makers, professionals, organisations and/or researchers to inform the design of future social media interventions. New evidence is provided on the contemporary uses of social media (e.g. Social media interventions can positively change physical activity and diet-related behaviours, via increases in physical activity levels, healthy modifications to food intake, and beneficial changes to body composition or body weight. Studies also reported on Instagram, Reddit, WeChat and Twitter and the use of photo sharing and editing, groups and sub-groups and gamification. ![]() The use of Facebook, Facebook groups and the accessibility of information and interaction were the main characteristics of social media interventions. The interventions reported on positive changes to physical activity and diet-related behaviours through increases in physical activity levels and modifications to food intake, body composition and/or body weight. The target population of most studies was young female adults (aged 18–35) attending college/university. ![]() ResultsĮighteen studies were included: randomised control trials ( n = 4), non-controlled trials ( n = 3), mixed methods studies ( n = 3), non-randomised controlled trials ( n = 5) and cross-sectional studies ( n = 3). A mixed methods approach was used to analyse and synthesise all evidence. Quality appraisal tools that aligned with the study designs were used. The inclusion criteria were: participants age 13+ years in the general population an intervention that used commercial social media platform(s) outcomes related to changes to diet/eating or physical activity behaviours and quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies. MethodsĪ systematic search of the literature was conducted across 5 databases (Medline, Embase, EBSCO Education, Wiley and Scopus) using key words related to social media, physical activity, diet, and age. The objectives of this systematic review were to update the evidence base on social media interventions for physical activity and diet since 2014, analyse the characteristics of interventions that resulted in changes to physical activity and diet-related behaviours, and assess differences in outcomes across different population groups. ![]()
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