Alessia Massa

Dr. Alessia Massa


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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26 June 2025 in Obesity Pillars
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
VFVittoria Frattolillo
Vittoria Frattolillo
AMAlessia Massa
Alessia Massa
DCDalila Capone
Dalila Capone
NMNoemi Monaco
Noemi Monaco
GFGianmario Forcina
Gianmario Forcina
Anna Di SessaAnna Di Sessa
Anna Di Sessa
Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern with significant cardiometabolic consequences. While conventional treatment approaches often fail to achieve sustained outcomes, emerging digital health interventions (DHIs)—including mobile applications, educational video games, wearable devices, telemedicine, and social media—offer innovative tools to support lifestyle modifications and enhance therapeutic adherence. In this narrative review, we focus on the main evidence regarding the effectiveness of DHIs for pediatric obesity treatment according to target (children vs. children with families) and duration (short- and long-term interventions). We also review their impact on clinical (e.g. body mass index, body composition, etc.), behavioral (physical activity, nutrition, adherence) and psychosocial (motivation, engagement) outcomes. In addition, future trends in the field are also discussed. DHIs demonstrate short-term effectiveness, especially when they incorporate personalization, interactivity, and family involvement. Mobile applications and educational video games boost nutritional literacy and promote healthy behaviours. Wearable devices encourage physical activity awareness, though adherence often varies. Long-term, family-based interventions help reduce dropout rates and reinforce lasting healthy habits. Guided use of social media can facilitate health education but also exposes users to risks such as misinformation and unhealthy food marketing. Despite these advancements, DHIs still face major challenges, including unequal access, data privacy concerns, and a lack of long-term outcome evaluations. The increasing prevalence of pediatric obesity underscores the urgent need for effective and sustainable treatment strategies. DHIs represent a promising, scalable approach for managing childhood obesity, but their long-term sustainability and effectiveness remain to be fully established. Ongoing technological advancements—and their thoughtful integration into existing healthcare frameworks—present significant opportunities to develop innovative, patient-centered therapeutic solutions that can improve engagement, adherence, and long-term health outcomes in children and adolescents with obesity.

12 September 2025 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GFGianmario Forcina
Gianmario Forcina
PFPierluigi Di Filippo
Pierluigi Di Filippo
DBDelia De Biasio
Delia De Biasio
FCFrancesco Giustino Cesaro
Francesco Giustino Cesaro
VFVittoria Frattolillo
Vittoria Frattolillo
Anna Di SessaAnna Di Sessa
Anna Di Sessa
Pediatric obesity represents a growing global health challenge, closely associated with increased cardiometabolic risk and long-term adverse outcomes. Although lifestyle modifications remain the cornerstone of treatment, sustained success is often limited. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota (GM) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of obesity, influencing host metabolism, energy homeostasis, and systemic inflammation. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the complex interplay between GM and pediatric obesity, with a particular emphasis on microbiota-targeted interventions. These include probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, dietary modulation, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Findings from preclinical studies and early-phase clinical trials indicate that gut dysbiosis may contribute to obesity-related mechanisms, such as altered nutrient absorption, increased adiposity, and dysregulated appetite control. Interventions targeting the microbiota have shown promise in modulating inflammatory pathways and improving metabolic profiles. While preliminary findings underscore the potential of the GM as a novel adjunctive target in managing pediatric obesity, current evidence remains heterogeneous, and robust clinical pediatric data are limited. Further research is needed to clarify the therapeutic efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of microbiota-modulating strategies in children with obesity.