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Great ‘app‐eal’ but not there yet: A review of iPhone nutrition applications relevant to child weight management
Author(s) -
Burrows Tracy L.,
Khambalia Amina Z.,
Perry Rebecca,
Carty Danika,
Hendrie Gilly A.,
AllmanFarinelli Margaret A.,
Garnett Sarah P.,
McNaughton Sarah A.,
Rangan Anna M.,
Truby Helen,
Collins Clare E.,
Golley Rebecca K.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.479
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1747-0080
pISSN - 1446-6368
DOI - 10.1111/1747-0080.12184
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , promotion (chess) , mobile apps , weight management , download , medicine , app store , payment , smartphone application , overweight , medical education , obesity , psychology , world wide web , computer science , multimedia , nursing , politics , political science , law
Aims There is increasing interest in the use of smartphone applications (apps) for delivering child obesity management interventions and supporting lifestyle behaviour change; however, there has been very little academic research on their development. Our aim is to review nutrition‐related apps designed for children currently available in A ustralia for their usefulness in education or support behavioural interventions for child obesity. Methods Apps available for download in iTunes A ustralia between 2 A pril and 3 J une 2013 which were suitable for children >12 years were identified. Key words were chosen to identify apps applicable to children, focusing on nutrition. Results A total of 27 apps were included. Most apps (24/27) were not based on evidence‐informed recommendations. A third of apps were developed in the USA (n = 10; 37%) and were free (67%), nine apps required upfront payment, with a mean cost of $A2.80 (range $A0.99–$A7.49). The most common nutrition features were the promotion of energy balance (n = 12 apps) and guidance on appropriate portion size (n = 15). The most common behaviour change feature was goal setting (n = 15). The five apps that scored most highly against the characteristics reviewed were: C alorie C ounter P ro by M y N et Diary, W eight W atchers, S wap It D on't S top It, C ontrol My Weight by C alorie K ing and R ate What I Ate—Photo Diet Tracker. Conclusions Very few apps were identified that could be used in education or support behavioural interventions for child obesity. There is a need to harness this technology and evaluate the applicability and use within childhood obesity research interventions.