Nudging toward Physical Activity: a Bibliometric Analysis and Future Scopes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Sport Sciences Department, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University

2 Professor of Sport Management, Sport Sciences Department, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor of Sport Management, Sport Sciences Department, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

4 Senior Research Fellow at Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University, Delhi, India

Abstract

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mortality. Encouraging individuals to be more physically active is a crucial strategy for reducing these health risks. In this context, understanding the hidden drivers behind people's mobility preferences is particularly important. Researchers use nudges as a behavioral tool to describe effective motivations in decision-making and choices, which can lead to predictable outcomes without excluding alternative options or relying on financial incentives. Using nudges in real-world conditions to promote physical activity has been the subject of various studies. However, there is still a lack of understanding of the current state and future research directions. To address this gap, this paper utilizes a bibliometric tool to analyze 119 nudge-related studies in the field of physical activity published in Scopus, providing a comprehensive overview of their structure, themes, and conceptual evolution. The analysis showed an increasing trend in research on nudges and physical activity, with a notable number of publications in 2023, especially in the field of medicine. American and European researchers have made substantial contributions, highlighting the importance of both individual and public health in developed nations. The ability of health-oriented tools to promote physical activity has also been emphasized, and some studies have investigated nudge theory in both nutrition and physical activity simultaneously. The results show that the topic of nudges and physical activity is a new interdisciplinary research area with practical implications for public health policy, and there is also considerable potential for further research in this field.

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References

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Journal of New Studies in Sport Management
Volume 6, Issue 3
August 2025
Pages 52-69

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