Can gamified mobile apps help college students reduce sedentary behavior?
Gamified mobile apps use elements like points, leaderboards, and rewards to encourage physical activity. These tools are designed to increase engagement and can help students move more throughout the day, which is a key way to reduce sedentary behavior.
What the research says
Research shows that gamified mobile health (mHealth) interventions can effectively increase physical activity in college students. One study involving 160 students found that adding team-based gamification, such as competition and rewards, improved engagement and physical activity outcomes over an 8-week period 5.
Specific gamification strategies also impact daily movement. For example, a 12-week study of university students found that cumulative delivery of gamified elements significantly increased daily step counts 3. Additionally, social support from friends and parents has been shown to increase daily physical activity and decrease screen time, which is a common form of sedentary behavior 1.
What to ask your doctor
- Can you recommend mobile apps that use gamification to help me stay active?
- What are some ways I can break up long periods of sitting during the day?
- How much daily physical activity do you recommend to reduce my sedentary time?
- Are there specific goals, like daily step counts, that I should aim for?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Nutrition & Obesity Medicine and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.