Display options
Cite
Chen J, Cade JE, Allman-Farinelli M. The Most Popular Smartphone Apps for Weight Loss: A Quality Assessment. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015;3(4):e104doi: 10.2196/mhealth.4334.
Chen, J., Cade, J. E., & Allman-Farinelli, M. (2015). The Most Popular Smartphone Apps for Weight Loss: A Quality Assessment. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 3(4), e104. https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.4334
Chen, Juliana, et al. "The Most Popular Smartphone Apps for Weight Loss: A Quality Assessment." JMIR mHealth and uHealth vol. 3,4 (2015): e104. doi: https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.4334
Chen J, Cade JE, Allman-Farinelli M. The Most Popular Smartphone Apps for Weight Loss: A Quality Assessment. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Dec 16;3(4):e104. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.4334. PMID: 26678569; PMCID: PMC4704947.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Dec 16;3(4):e104. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.4334.

The Most Popular Smartphone Apps for Weight Loss: A Quality Assessment.

JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Juliana Chen, Janet E Cade, Margaret Allman-Farinelli

Affiliations

  1. School of Molecular Bioscience, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.

PMID: 26678569 PMCID: PMC4704947 DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.4334

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Advancements in mobile phone technology have led to the development of smartphones with the capability to run apps. The availability of a plethora of health- and fitness-related smartphone apps has the potential, both on a clinical and public health level, to facilitate healthy behavior change and weight management. However, current top-rated apps in this area have not been extensively evaluated in terms of scientific quality and behavioral theory evidence base.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of the most popular dietary weight-loss smartphone apps on the commercial market using comprehensive quality assessment criteria, and to quantify the behavior change techniques (BCTs) incorporated.

METHODS: The top 200-rated Health & Fitness category apps from the free and paid sections of Google Play and iTunes App Store in Australia (n=800) were screened in August 2014. To be included in further analysis, an app had to focus on weight management, include a facility to record diet intake (self-monitoring), and be in English. One researcher downloaded and used the eligible apps thoroughly for 5 days and assessed the apps against quality assessment criteria which included the following domains: accountability, scientific coverage and content accuracy of information relevant to weight management, technology-enhanced features, usability, and incorporation of BCTs. For inter-rater reliability purposes, a second assessor provided ratings on 30% of the apps. The accuracy of app energy intake calculations was further investigated by comparison with results from a 3-day weighed food record (WFR).

RESULTS: Across the eligible apps reviewed (n=28), only 1 app (4%) received full marks for accountability. Overall, apps included an average of 5.1 (SD 2.3) out of 14 technology-enhanced features, and received a mean score of 13.5 (SD 3.7) out of 20 for usability. The majority of apps provided estimated energy requirements (24/28, 86%) and used a food database to calculate energy intake (21/28, 75%). When compared against the WFR, the mean absolute energy difference of apps which featured energy intake calculations (23/28, 82%) was 127 kJ (95% CI -45 to 299). An average of 6.3 (SD 3.7) of 26 BCTs were included.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the most popular commercial apps for weight management are suboptimal in quality, given the inadequate scientific coverage and accuracy of weight-related information, and the relative absence of BCTs across the apps reviewed. With the limited regulatory oversight around the quality of these types of apps, this evaluation provides clinicians and consumers an informed view of the highest-quality apps in the current popular app pool appropriate for recommendation and uptake. Further research is necessary to assess the effectiveness of apps for weight management.

Keywords: behavior change techniques; evaluation; obesity; quality; smartphone apps; weight management

References

  1. J Med Internet Res. 2013 Dec 23;15(12):e287 - PubMed
  2. Can J Diet Pract Res. 2012 Fall;73(3):e253-60 - PubMed
  3. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2013 Jul 24;1(2):e15 - PubMed
  4. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2013 Jul-Aug;28(4):320-9 - PubMed
  5. Nutrition. 2014 Nov-Dec;30(11-12):1257-66 - PubMed
  6. Nutr J. 2008 Nov 24;7:34 - PubMed
  7. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Mar 27;3(1):e31 - PubMed
  8. Health Psychol. 2009 Nov;28(6):690-701 - PubMed
  9. J Med Internet Res. 2014 Feb 12;16(2):e44 - PubMed
  10. Health Psychol. 2008 May;27(3):379-87 - PubMed
  11. Telemed J E Health. 2012 Mar;18(2):115-9 - PubMed
  12. J Med Internet Res. 2013 Jun 14;15(6):e120 - PubMed
  13. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011 Jan;111(1):92-102 - PubMed
  14. J Med Internet Res. 2010 Feb 17;12(1):e4 - PubMed
  15. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2013 Nov 01;1(2):e24 - PubMed
  16. Breast. 2014 Oct;23(5):683-9 - PubMed
  17. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2011 Jun;35(3):293-4 - PubMed
  18. Pain Med. 2014 Jun;15(6):898-909 - PubMed
  19. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2013 Jun 25;1(1):e9 - PubMed
  20. Ann Intern Med. 2014 Nov 18;161(10 Suppl):S5-12 - PubMed
  21. Telemed J E Health. 2015 Feb;21(2):97-104 - PubMed
  22. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Feb 16;3(1):e16 - PubMed
  23. Am J Prev Med. 2013 Nov;45(5):576-82 - PubMed
  24. J Med Internet Res. 2013 Apr 15;15(4):e32 - PubMed
  25. Am J Prev Med. 2013 Dec;45(6):732-6 - PubMed
  26. Can J Diet Pract Res. 2014 Spring;75(1):41-7 - PubMed
  27. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998 Oct;98(10):1163-5 - PubMed
  28. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2010 Mar 01;4(2):328-36 - PubMed
  29. J Med Internet Res. 2011 Sep 22;13(3):e65 - PubMed
  30. J Obes. 2013;2013:151597 - PubMed
  31. Transl Behav Med. 2011 Dec;1(4):523-9 - PubMed
  32. J Med Internet Res. 2014 Apr 09;16(4):e104 - PubMed
  33. Telemed J E Health. 2014 Aug;20(8):729-35 - PubMed
  34. Lancet. 2014 Aug 30;384(9945):766-81 - PubMed
  35. BMC Public Health. 2014 Jun 25;14:646 - PubMed
  36. JAMA. 1997 Apr 16;277(15):1244-5 - PubMed
  37. J Telemed Telecare. 2014 Sep;20(6):339-49 - PubMed
  38. J R Soc Med. 2013 Mar;106(3):76-8 - PubMed
  39. JMIR Serious Games. 2014 Aug 04;2(2):e9 - PubMed
  40. Am J Prev Med. 2013 Nov;45(5):583-9 - PubMed
  41. J Med Internet Res. 2012 May 14;14(3):e72 - PubMed
  42. Healthc Inform Res. 2014 Jan;20(1):23-9 - PubMed
  43. J Med Internet Res. 2013 Apr 18;15(4):e86 - PubMed
  44. Health Psychol. 2014 Dec;33(12):1530-40 - PubMed
  45. JMIR Res Protoc. 2012 Aug 22;1(2):e9 - PubMed
  46. J Med Internet Res. 2015 May 14;17(5):e118 - PubMed
  47. Clin J Pain. 2015 Jun;31(6):557-63 - PubMed
  48. Am J Prev Med. 2011 Mar;40(3):279-85 - PubMed
  49. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Mar 11;3(1):e27 - PubMed
  50. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2014 Aug 19;2(3):e36 - PubMed

Publication Types

Grant support