New Delhi, November 17, 2017 : .Smartwatches, digital apps, and smartwatches aren’t helping the poor when it comes down to keeping fit.
Wearables, according to a meta-analysis of 19 studies, have been made gadgets by the wealthy and famous for their health and fitness goals. At present, digital interventions via wearables and apps targeting physical activity are not equivalently effective for people of low and high socioeconomic status.
Digital interventions through wearables or apps that target physical activity and are currently not equally effective for those with low socioeconomic status and high socioeconomic status.
“Specifically, there is very little evidence that digital physical activity interventions have any efficacy for people of low socioeconomic status, but moderate efficacy for those of high socioeconomic status, both between and within studies,” said the new meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity.The new meta-analysis, published in International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, stated that “specifically, there is very limited evidence that digital exercise interventions have any efficacy or people of low socioeconomic standing, but moderate effectiveness for those of higher socioeconomic status both within and between studies.”
The tech companies have championed wearable technology as a tool for reducing inequalities in health promotion, which clearly is not the case.Wearable technology has been promoted by tech firms as a way to reduce inequalities in the promotion of health.This is clearly not true.
“This study suggests that in a physical activity context, the opposite is true, that is, people who would benefit the most from these interventions are being left behind,” the researchers noted.The researchers stated that “this study indicates that, in a context of physical activity, the contrary is true” and that people who could benefit most from such interventions are being left behind.
The researchers tested whether things like text messages, web-based prompts, or wearable step trackers could nudge people to increase their levels of physical activity.Researchers tested whether text messages, web-based prompts or wearable trackers might help people increase their physical activity.
Across all of the studies, the behavioural tools were not effective for people with low socioeconomic status, even when they worked well for the rich.All studies showed that the behavioral tools did not work well for those with lower socioeconomic status.
“Digital interventions targeting physical activity do not show equivalent efficacy for people of low and high socioeconomic status.Digital interventions that target physical activity are not equally effective for those with low socioeconomic status and high socioeconomic status.
For people of low socioeconomic status, there is no evidence that digital physical activity interventions are effective, irrespective of the behaviour change techniques used,” the team noted.The team found no evidence to support the effectiveness of digital interventions in physical activity for people with low socioeconomic status.
The study shares some reasons behind this disparity.This study reveals some of the reasons for this disparity.
People of low socioeconomic status may, in general, tend to use the internet less for health information and have a lower e-Health (electronic-health) literacy — people’s capability to use information and communication technology to improve their health, which may impact intervention engagement, the findings showed.The findings revealed that people with low socioeconomic status might use the internet less to find health information.
They also have lower eHealth literacy (electronic health literacy) — their ability to use technology to improve their own health.This could impact engagement in intervention.
Compared to those of low socioeconomic status, people of higher socioeconomic status “may elicit more opportunities to act upon intervention advice or feedback through more free time, the ability to prioritise lifestyle behaviour and more resources, as well as a more supportive social and physical environment that facilitates increases in physical activity”.People with higher socioeconomic standing may have more opportunity to receive intervention advice and feedback than those in lower socioeconomic positions.
This is because they are more likely to be able to prioritize their lifestyle and access more resources.They also enjoy a supportive environment and social network that encourages increased physical activity.
In light of acceleration towards a digital world (escalated by the Covid-19 pandemic), there is an urgent need to investigate whether digital behaviour change interventions are widening rather than reducing inequalities, the researchers stressed.The researchers stressed that the digital revolution is accelerating towards a digital age, as evidenced by the Covid-19 pandemic.It’s urgent to examine whether these digital behavior change interventions actually increase rather than decrease inequalities.
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