Purpose: Insufficient physical activity (PA) and prolonged sedentary time (ST) are well-established risk factors for chronic diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of mobile health (mHealth) interventions in reducing ST and improving PA specifically among desk-based office workers.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted across six electronic databases to identify empirical studies published up to June 2025 that evaluated workplace ST/PA interventions delivered via mobile devices among office workers. Eligible studies included office workers aged > 18 years and employed mHealth interventions. Primary outcomes were self-reported or objectively measured PA and ST.
Results: Thirty-eight studies met inclusion criteria, encompassing 74,251 participants (mean age: 40.02 ± 6.71 years; 41% male). mHealth interventions significantly reduced ST levels: overall ST (standardized mean difference [SMD] = - 1.58; 95% CI - 2.34 to - 0.83; p < 0.0001; low certainty), prolonged ST (SMD = - 1.16; 95% CI - 1.98 to - 0.34; p = 0.006; very low certainty), and improved daily step count (SMD = 3.84; 95% CI 2.66 to 5.03; p < 0.00001; very low certainty). Substantial heterogeneity, low-powered studies, and high risk of bias contributed to low-to-moderate evidence quality.
Conclusions: The evidence suggests that mHealth interventions may produce small to moderate increase in PA and reductions in ST among sedentary workers; however, the overall effects remain uncertain due to heterogeneity in outcome measurements, gaps in follow-up assessments, and limited sample sizes. Further high-quality, long-term studies are warranted to evaluate the sustained benefits of mHealth interventions across traditional and hybrid office settings.
Trial registration: Prospectively registered at PROSPERO (CRD42025635312).
Keywords: Digital health; Occupational health; Office worker; Physical activity; Sedentary behavior; Smartphone.
© 2026. The Author(s).