Efficacy of Emerging Technologies to Manage Childhood Obesity

Abstract

Mohammad Alotaibi,1 Fady Alnajjar,2 Massimiliano Cappuccio,3 Sumaya Khalid,2 Tareq Alhmiedat,1,4 Omar Mubin5 1Faculty of Computers and Information Technology, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 3School of Engineering and IT, University of New South Wales Canberra, Canberra, Australia; 4Industrial Innovation & Robotics Center, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; 5School of Computer, Data and Mathematical Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, AustraliaCorrespondence: Fady Alnajjar, Email [email protected]: Childhood obesity is a widespread medical condition and presents a formidable challenge for public health. Long-term treatment strategies and early prevention strategies are required because obese children are more likely to carry this condition into adulthood, increasing their risk of developing other major health disorders. The present review analyses various technological interventions available for childhood obesity prevention and treatment. It also examines whether machine learning and technological interventions can play vital roles in its management. Twenty-six studies were shortlisted for the review using various technological strategies and analysed regarding their efficacy. While most of the selected studies showed positive outcomes, there was a lack of studies using robots and artificial intelligence to manage obesity in children. The use of machine learning was observed in various studies, and the integration of social robots and other efficacious strategies may be effective for treating childhood obesity in the future.Keywords: childhood obesity, intervention, exergaming, machine learning, artificial intelligence

Keywords

• childhood obesity
• intervention
• exergaming
• machine learning
• artificial intelligence