Digital Health Tools: How the University of South Australia Improves Children’s Physical Activity and Diet

Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Tools on Youth Wellbeing

Electronic and mobile health (e‑Health and m‑Health) applications are increasingly recognized as instruments for fostering healthier habits in children and teenagers. A recent meta‑analysis by the University of South Australia (UniSA) reviewed data on more than 133,000 youths under 18 and confirmed that targeted digital interventions can reduce sedentary behaviour, improve diet, and contribute to healthier body weight.

Key Findings from UniSA Research

• Increased Movement: Participants demonstrated an average of 10–20 extra minutes of moderate‑to‑vigorous physical activity per day.
• Better Diet: Digital programs led to increased fruit and vegetable consumption and a decline in fatty‑food intake.
• Weight Management: Although changes were modest, steady improvements were seen in body weight and body‑fat percentages.
• Reduced Sitting: Some applications helped users cut 20–25 minutes of daily sitting or screen time.
• Sleep: No significant effect on sleep duration or quality was observed across the studies.

These results show that when well designed, digital tools can engage children in healthful behaviours in ways that traditional interventions sometimes cannot.

Mobile Apps vs Wearables: Which Drives Change?

Analysis of the study data highlighted differences in impact based on the technology employed:

• Mobile Apps: Delivered the strongest improvements in diet and body‑weight metrics. Features such as personalised reminders and gamified challenges kept users active in their food choices.
• Wearables: Excelled at reducing sedentary time by providing real‑time feedback on movement and encouraging brief activity bursts throughout the day.

Designing Effective Short‑Term Digital Programs

The duration of an intervention influenced its outcomes. Shorter programmes (eight weeks or less) maximised increases in physical activity, while longer programmes (12 weeks or more) produced more substantial weight‑management benefits. Education and healthcare providers can use this insight to align intervention length with specific health goals.

Practical Tips for Program Design

• Define clear, measurable objectives: activity minutes, fruit servings, or BMI changes.
• Incorporate gamification elements—points, levels, or virtual badges—to sustain engagement.
• Offer ongoing feedback, whether through app notifications or wearable data dashboards.
• Pair digital tools with brief human support from teachers, parents, or health coaches to reinforce motivation.

Integrating Digital Interventions in Schools and Community Settings

Schools can adopt evidence‑based apps and wearable monitors as part of routine health education. Community health centres can embed the same tools into after‑school activities or parent‑education workshops. The following steps can help implementation:

1. Choose evidence‑based solutions: Prefer platforms with proven effectiveness in peer‑reviewed studies.
2. Train facilitators: Provide teachers or community workers with orientation sessions on how to use the tools and interpret data.
3. Monitor progress: Track aggregate activity levels and dietary intake to evaluate program success.
4. Adjust content: Tailor challenges or dietary prompts to reflect local food availability and cultural preferences.

Recommendations for Parents and Educators

• Encourage consistent use of a single app or wearable to build routine and avoid data fragmentation.
• Set realistic daily activity targets—around 30 minutes of moderate activity spread across the day is a practical goal for most children.
• Use app analytics to identify periods of inactivity and prompt short activity breaks.
• Regularly review dietary logs to spot patterns and intervene early if unhealthy trends emerge.

For families seeking structured programmes, the University of South Australia offers a range of health‑science pathways that incorporate digital health competencies. Explore the Health Science program to gain deeper insight into the integration of technology with child and adolescent health.

Take Action Today

1. Learn more about the Health Science degree at UniSA and how it covers digital health strategies.

2. Register for a free webinar on child health and digital tools hosted by the university’s Centre for English Language in partnership with health specialists.

3. Contact the UniSA health research team for guidance on implementing effective digital interventions in your school or community program.

By leveraging the proven benefits of digital health tools, parents, educators, and health professionals can collaboratively foster sustainable, healthy habits that extend into adulthood.