The Role of Facebook ® in Promoting a Physically Active Lifestyle: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Federica Duregon, Valentina Bullo, Andrea Di Blasio, Lucia Cugusi, Martina Pizzichemi, Salvatore Sciusco, Gianluca Viscioni, David Cruz-Diaz, Danilo Sales Bocalini, Alessandro Bortoletto, Francesco Favro, Cristine Lima Alberton, Stefano Gobbo () and Marco Bergamin
Additional contact information
Federica Duregon: Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Valentina Bullo: Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Andrea Di Blasio: Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Lucia Cugusi: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/B, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Martina Pizzichemi: GymHub S.r.l., Spin-off of the University of Padova, Via O. Galante 67/a, 35129 Padova, Italy
Salvatore Sciusco: Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Gianluca Viscioni: Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
David Cruz-Diaz: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaen, Spain
Danilo Sales Bocalini: Laboratorio de Fisiologia e Bioquimica Experimental, Centro de Educacao Fisica e Deportos, Universida-Federal do Espirito Santo (UFES), Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitoria 29075-910, Brazil
Alessandro Bortoletto: Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Francesco Favro: Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Cristine Lima Alberton: Physical Education School, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Luís de Camões, 625, Pelotas 96055-630, Brazil
Stefano Gobbo: Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Marco Bergamin: Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-27

Abstract: Background: it is well known in literature that sedentary lifestyle contributes to worsening people’s health. This issue highlights the need for effective interventions to promote an active lifestyle. Research suggested multilevel intervention strategies to promote adherence to recommended physical activity levels, including the use of social networks that may simplify access to health notions. Being Facebook ® the most extensive worldwide social network, this document aimed to analyze the current body of evidence on the role of Facebook ® in the promotion of physical activity. Methods: eighteen manuscripts were considered eligible for this systematic review, and it was performed a meta-analysis (PRISMA guidelines) for overall physical activity parameters in eleven out of eighteen studies. Results: significant improvements were detected in the total amount of physical activity. In parallel, an increase in other parameters, such as cardiovascular, body composition, and social support, were found. The aerobic training, with supervised and tailored modalities, showed more considerable improvements. Conclusions: this study showed that Facebook ® might be considered a feasible and accessible approach to promoting regular exercise practice and achieving health benefits indicators. Future research on the cross-link between physical activity and social network management could also focus on strength training to verify if a more structured intervention would show an effect.

Keywords: Facebook; social network; physical activity; health benefits; active lifestyle; review; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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