Mobile apps designed for preschoolers produce comparable physical activity outcomes to traditional physical education activities.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Globally, preschoolers' physical activity (PA) levels are lower than recommended. Digital interventions involving child-centered approaches hold promise for increasing PA behaviors. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the acute effects of 3 custom mobile apps, Foods & Moves, on preschooler's PA outcomes in comparison with traditional physical education (PE) activities as part of the HEalthy EnviROnments (HEROs) Study.

Methods

Thirty-one children (17 boys, X_age =4.3±0.5 years; 42% Hispanic) participated in a 6-week parent-child intervention aimed at enhancing healthy eating and PA behaviors. Children's PA outcomes, including percentage of time spent in moderate PA (MPA%), vigorous PA (VPA%), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA%), and ca

SUBMITTER: Zeng N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12314688 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature