Telemedicine and mobile health interventions for nutrition management in India: a scoping review

Alemtsehay E. Berega; Richa S.

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20264145

Authors

Alemtsehay E. Berega Department of Life Science and Food Science and Nutrition, School of Science, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Richa S. Department of Life Science and Food Science and Nutrition, School of Science, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20264145

Keywords:

Telemedicine, mHealth, Nutrition management, Digital health, Remote diet counselling, India

Abstract

Metabolic health is basis for all health, influencing energy regulation to disease prevention to hormonal balance. The rapid development of digital health technologies has transformed the approach to nutrition and diet management, providing better access to personalized counselling, diet plans, and real-time health monitoring. Nutrition consultations via telemedicine are conducted remotely via video call and chat platforms. Mobile health (mHealth) employs apps, wearable devices and SMS reminders to monitor physical activity and food consumption. This study provides an overview of the impact of telemedicine and mHealth interventions on eating behaviours, nutritional outcomes and overall health in various populations in India regarding dietary adherence, glycaemic control, weight management and implementation challenges. A review was following the guidelines for meta-analysis using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and relevant official reports to select peer-reviewed studies published in the last decade. Studies assessing digital nutrition counselling, mHealth applications, remote dietary monitoring and behavioural interventions among Indian populations were included. Results suggest that mHealth and telemedicine can improve adherence to diet, glycaemic control and weight management. Real-time feedback, AI-powered meal suggestions and virtual coaching improve self-management, especially among people living with diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. But the digital divide, the limitations of technology and lack of access in resource poor settings remain huge barriers. Capacity building, enabling policies, technological advancement and improved user engagement are needed to optimize these technologies. Improvements in data security and availability can also increase the effectiveness and reach of digital nutrition interventions, especially for remote and underserved populations in India.

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