Effects of immersive virtual reality-based physical activity interventions on anthropometric variables and physical fitness in university students: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are common among university students and may negatively affect body composition and physical fitness. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has emerged as a promising strategy to promote physical activity through engaging and interactive exercise experiences. Although previous reviews have explored virtual reality-based interventions across diverse populations and outcomes, the evidence regarding the effects of IVR-based physical activity interventions on anthropometric variables and physical fitness in university students has not been systematically synthesised. Methods and analysis This protocol is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement and has been prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261377808). Electronic searches will be conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, SPORTDiscus, APA PsycINFO and CINAHL, with additional searches of ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Eligible studies will include university students exposed to immersive virtual reality-based physical activity, exercise or active exergaming interventions. Comparators may include no-intervention controls, waitlist controls, usual activities, conventional exercise programmes or non-immersive virtual reality interventions. Outcomes will include objectively measured anthropometric variables and physical fitness indicators. Study selection, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment and certainty-of-evidence evaluation will be conducted independently by two reviewers using revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials, risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodologies. Where appropriate, random-effects meta-analyses will be performed. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required because this review will synthesise data from previously published studies and will not involve the collection of primary data. Findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at scientific conferences. PROSPERO registration number CRD420261377808.