Promoting aerobic physical activity of adolescents aged 12 to 16 years old during after-school hours using mobile applications: a critical review

Abstract

The decrease in physical activity during adolescence, together with the increase in screen time, has led to the search for alternatives for maintaining an active lifestyle that provides physical and psychological benefits to this population. Thus, mobile phones, and more specifically mobile applications for physical activity, have acquired greater prominence in recent years. However, some aspects need to be considered when using mobile applications to obtain improvements in the level of activity that produce changes in the fitness and body composition of adolescents. First, the scope of use of the mobile apps (at school or out-of-school); second, the academic year or age of the subjects; third, gender; fourth, the volume of training completed with the mobile apps; and fifth, the mobile app selected to carry out the intervention. The practical applications of all of the above in terms of the use of mobile applications in adolescents are discussed, and conclusions are made with aspects that should be taken into consideration in future research.