Mobile Applications for Weight Management
Abstract
Background The use of smartphone applications (apps) to assist with weight management is increasingly prevalent, but the quality of these apps is not well characterized.Purpose The goal of the study was to evaluate diet/nutrition and anthropometric tracking apps based on incorporation of features consistent with theories of behavior change.Methods A comparative, descriptive assessment was conducted of the top-rated free apps in the Health and Fitness category available in the iTunes App Store. Health and Fitness apps (N=200) were evaluated using predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria and categorized based on commonality in functionality, features, and developer description. Four researchers then evaluated the two most popular apps in each category using two instruments: one based on traditional behavioral theory (score range: 0-100) and the other on the Fogg Behavioral Model (score range: 0-6). Data collection and analysis occurred in November 2012.Results Eligible apps (n=23) were divided into five categories: (1) diet tracking; (2) healthy cooking; (3) weight/anthropometric tracking; (4) grocery decision making; and (5) restaurant decision making. The mean behavioral theory score was 8.1 (SD=4.2); the mean persuasive technology score was 1.9 (SD=1.7). The top-rated app on both scales was Lose It! by Fitnow Inc.Conclusions All apps received low overall scores for inclusion of behavioral theory-based strategies.
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Considerable attention has been paid to whether existing, often commercial, apps provide theory and evidence-based BCTs.
“To date, considerable attention has been paid to whether existing, often commercial, apps provide theory and evidence-based BCTs [66-71].”
From Understanding Usage of a Hybrid Website and Smartphone App for Weight Management: A Mixed-Methods Study (2014) · cites this paper as [70]
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- Authors
- Azar, K. M. J., Lesser, L. I., Laing, B. Y., Stephens, J., Aurora, M. S., Burke, L. E., & Palaniappan, L. P.
- Affiliations
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation (US)
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- Corresponding author
- Azar, Kristen M.J.
- Venue
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-11
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 583-589
- ISSN
- 0749-3797 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1966427543
- Semantic Scholar
- ab4de5998691c1a40525a9aa2168abea4840ff3b
- Cited by
- 334
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 40 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 56.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R18DK096394)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
- Keywords
- mobile health apps, weight management, behaviour change theory, Fogg Behavior Model, persuasive technology, app quality assessment, nutrition apps
- MeSH terms
- Anthropometry, Body Weight, Cooking, Decision Making, Diet, Humans, Weight Loss, Health Behavior, Cell Phone, Weight Reduction Programs, Mobile Applications
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