Community-based Digital Health and Telephone Interventions to Increase Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
One Pager
This is a brief summary of the CPSTF finding and systematic review evidence for Nutrition and Physical Activity: Community-based Digital Health and Telephone Interventions to Increase Healthy Eating and Physical Activity. Read a complete summary of the systematic review and CPSTF Finding and access a list of suggested guidelines and toolkits.
This information is also availble in a PDF version.
Summary of Community Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends community-based digital health interventions to increase healthy eating and physical activity among adults interested in improving these behaviors.
Major Findings
The CPSTF finding is based on evidence from a systematic review of 31 studies (search period January 2009 to June 2020). Evidence showed interventions led to the following outcomes. 
- Participants ate more fruits and vegetables and fewer unhealthy foods, consumedfewer calories overall, and improved weight-related and clinical outcomes.
- Adults increased or maintained the amount of time they engaged in physicalactivity, with the greatest improvements reported for those who were less activebefore the intervention.
What are Digital Health and Telephone Interventions to Increase Healthy Eating and Physical Activity?
These interventions aim to increase healthy eating and physical activity by using websites, mobile apps, text messages, emails, or one-on-one telephone calls. Interventions include educational information plus one or more of the following: coaching or counseling from trained professionals; self-monitoring to record healthy eating, physical activity, or weight; or goal setting. Interventions also may include social support from peers or motivational strategies such as incentives, rewards, and gaming techniques; and computer-generated feedback.
Why is This Important?
- Adequate physical activity combined with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables lowers adults’ risk for many chronicdiseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some types of cancer.1,2
- In the United States, 1 in 2 adults get the recommended amount of aerobic physical activity and 1 in 10 adults eat therecommended amount of fruits or vegetables each day.3,4
- In the United States, 93% of adults use the internet, 85% have access to a smartphone, and 77% have homebroadband. Digital health interventions have the potential to reach a large number of people.5-7
Learn More
References
1 CDC, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. About Nutrition: Why It Matters. Atlanta, GA: 2021. Accessed 10/26/21. Available from URL: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/about-nutrition/why-it-matters.html.
2 CDC, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Benefits of Physical Activity. Atlanta, GA: 2021. Accessed 10/26/21. Available from URL: https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm.
3 CDC, National Center for Health Statistics. Early release of selected estimates based on data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey, data tables for figures 7.1, 7.5. Accessed 10/26/21. Available from URL: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/releases/released201905.htm#7a.
4Lee-Kwan SH, Moore LV, Blanck HM, et al. Disparities in state-specific adult fruit and vegetable consumption United States, 2015. MMWR 2017;66:1241 7.
5 Pew Research Center. Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet, 2021. Date Accessed 7/2/2021. Available from URL: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/.
6 Pew Research Center. Mobile Fact Sheet, 2021. Date Accessed 12/1/2021. Available from URL: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/mobile/.
7 Beleigoli AM, Andrade AQ, Can ado AG, Paulo MN, Diniz MFH, et al. Web-based digital health interventions for weight loss and lifestyle habit changes in overweight and obese adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res 2019;21(1):e298.
Established in 1996 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) is an independent, nonfederal panel of public health and prevention experts whose members are appointed by the director of CDC. CPSTF provides information for a wide range of decision makers on programs, services, and other interventions aimed at improving population health. Although CDC provides administrative, scientific, and technical support for CPSTF, the recommendations developed are those of CPSTF and do not undergo review or approval by CDC. Find more information at www.thecommunityguide.org.