The effectiveness of e-& mHealth interventions to promote physical activity and healthy diets in developing countries: a systematic review

Background: Promoting physical activity and healthy eating is important to combat the unprecedented rise in NCDs in many developing countries. Using modern information-and communication technologies to deliver physical activity and diet interventions is particularly promising considering the increased proliferation of such technologies in many developing countries. The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the effectiveness of e-& mHealth interventions to promote physical activity and healthy diets in developing countries.Methods: Major databases and grey literature sources were searched to retrieve studies that quantitatively examined the effectiveness of e-& mHealth interventions on physical activity and diet outcomes in developing countries. Additional studies were retrieved through citation alerts and scientific social media allowing study inclusion until August 2016. The CONSORT checklist was used to assess the risk of bias of the included studies.Results: A total of 15 studies conducted in 13 developing countries in Europe, Africa, Latin-and South America and Asia were included in the review. The majority of studies enrolled adults who were healthy or at risk of diabetes or hypertension. The average intervention length was 6.4 months, and text messages and the Internet were the most frequently used intervention delivery channels. Risk of bias across the studies was moderate (55.7 % of the criteria fulfilled). Eleven studies reported significant positive effects of an e-& mHealth intervention on physical activity and/or diet behaviour. Respectively, 50 % and 70 % of the interventions were effective in promoting physical activity and healthy diets.Conclusions: The majority of studies demonstrated that e-& mHealth interventions were effective in promoting physical activity and healthy diets in developing countries. Future interventions should use more rigorous study designs, investigate the cost-effectiveness and reach of interventions, and focus on emerging technologies, such as smart phone apps and wearable activity trackers.Trial registration: The review protocol can be retrieved from the PROSPERO database (Registration ID: CRD42015029240)

GULAYAN SA PAARALAN AND ITS IMPLICATION TO LEARNERS’ NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: Received: 1st September 2021; Revised: 09th February 2022, 11th March 2022, 5th April 2022; Accepted: 06th April 2022

This study aimed to determine the implications of the utilization of yield from Malaban Elementary School Gulayan sa Paaralan Project (GPP) through the School-based Feeding Program (SBFP) on the learners’ nutritional status and academic performance. A descriptive research design was employed in this study. The respondents of the study were the 123 severely wasted and 400 wasted learners from Kinder to Grade VI of Malaban Elementary School, School Year 2018-2019. Based on the results of the study after the GPP utilization through SBFP, the nutritional status of the learners in terms of BMI showed improvement from severely wasted to wasted, and from waste to normal, some were from severely wasted to normal, together with their height and weight. Likewise, an improvement was also observed in the academic performance of the learners. Consequently, the GPP utilization through SBFP has positive implications on the nutritional status as indicated in the BMI, height, weight and academic performance of the learners. Hence, the researcher recommended that GPP needs to continue for it helps the schools in achieving the goals of the government in promoting and maintaining health and wellness among Filipino learners, for malnutrition is one of the biggest problems encountered by our country that affects the academic performance of the learners