Nishi et al. 2024, Digital health apps with gamification and physical activity, meta-analysis

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 36 RCTs (49 comparisons, n=10,079) comparing gamified versus non-gamified health applications; high-certainty evidence that gamification adds only a trivial 489 steps/day (95% CI 64 to 914) with no significant effect on moderate-to-vigorous activity. Small but significant reductions in body fat (−1.92%, high certainty) and body weight (−0.70 kg, moderate certainty) were observed; no effects on blood pressure, lipids or glycaemic control. Published in EClinicalMedicine (The Lancet). Strong.