Effectiveness of Integrated Technology Apps for Supporting Healthy Food Purchasing and Consumption: A Systematic Review

Lim, Sook Yee; Lee, Kai Wei; Seow, Wen-Li; Mohamed, Nurul Azmawati; Nordin, Syafinaz Amin

doi:10.3390/foods10081861

Cited by 29 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 74 publications

(131 reference statements)

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“…Only a small number of English-language digital health apps have reported their usability evaluation results [ 6 ]. Although the usefulness of technologies has been demonstrated, results on the effectiveness of technology integration on the adoption of healthy eating habits are conflicting [ 15 ]. In 2018, French was spoken in 29 countries on all continents, by approximately 300 million people; 235 million people use it daily, and 90 million people are native speakers [ 16 ]; however, no overall evaluation of French-language nutrition apps has been identified in the literature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps in the French App Stores: Assessment of Functionality and Quality

Martinon¹,

Saliasi²,

Bourgeois³

et al. 2022

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background The global burden of disease attributes 20% of deaths to poor nutrition. Although hundreds of nutrition-related mobile apps have been created, and these have been downloaded by millions of users, the effectiveness of these technologies on the adoption of healthy eating has had mixed Objective The aim of this study was to review which nutrition-related mobile apps are currently available on the French market and assess their quality. Methods We screened apps on the Google Play Store and the French Apple App Store, from March 10 to 17, 2021, to identify those related to nutritional health. A shortlist of 15 apps was identified, and each was assessed using the French version of the Mobile App Rating Scale: 8 dietitians and nutritionists assessed 7 apps, and the remaining apps were randomly allocated to ensure 4 assessments per app. Intraclass correlation was used to evaluate interrater agreement. Means and standard deviations of scores for each section and each item were calculated. Results The top scores for overall quality were obtained by Yazio - Régime et Calories (mean 3.84, SD 0.32), FeelEat (mean 3.71, SD 0.47), and Bonne App (mean 3.65, SD 0.09). Engagement scores ranged from a mean of 1.95 (SD 0.5) for iEatBetter: Journal alimentaire to a mean of 3.85 (SD 0.44) for FeelEat. Functionality scores ranged from a mean of 2.25 (SD 0.54) for Naor to a mean of 4.25 (SD 0.46) for Yazio. Aesthetics scores ranged from a mean of 2.17 (SD 0.34) for Naor to a mean of 3.88 (SD 0.47) for Yazio. Information scores ranged from a mean of 2.38 (SD 0.60) for iEatBetter to a mean of 3.73 (SD 0.29) for Yazio. Subjective quality scores ranged from a mean of 1.13 (SD 0.25) for iEatBetter to a mean of 2.28 (SD 0.88) for Compteur de calories FatSecret. Specificity scores ranged from a mean of 1.38 (SD 0.64) for iEatBetter to a mean of 3.50 (SD 0.91) for FeelEat. The app-specific score was always lower than the subjective quality score, which was always lower than the quality score, which was lower than the rating from the iOS or Android app stores. Conclusions Although prevention and information messages in apps regarding nutritional habits are not scientifically verified before marketing, we found that app quality was good. Subjective quality and specificity were associated with lower ratings. Further investigations are needed to assess whether information from these apps is consistent with recommendations and to determine the long-term impacts of these apps on users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps in the French App Stores: Assessment of Functionality and Quality

Martinon¹,

Saliasi²,

Bourgeois³

et al. 2022

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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“…Indeed, prior research in adults has confirmed that engagement with a mHealth technology was a significant predictor of dietary intake behavior change ( 82 ). It will be critically important to identify components of the mHealth intervention, such as increased interactivity, personalization, or individual feedback, which keep children and families engaged with the technology long-term ( 83 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a mobile health nutrition intervention on dietary intake in children who have autism spectrum disorder

et al. 2023

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BackgroundChildren who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show preferences for processed foods, such as salty and sugary snacks (SSS) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), while healthier foods, such as fruits and vegetables (FV), are consumed less. Innovative tools are needed that can efficiently disseminate evidence-based interventions and engage autistic children to improve their diet.AimThe aim of this 3-month randomized trial was to test the initial efficacy of a mobile health (mHealth) nutrition intervention on changing consumption of targeted healthy (FV) and less healthy foods/beverages (SSS, SSB) in children who have ASD, ages 6–10, who were picky eaters.MethodsThirty-eight parent-child dyads were randomly assigned to either an intervention (technology) group or a wait list control (education) group. The intervention included behavioral skills training, a high level of personalization for dietary goals, and involved parents as “agents of change.” Parents in the education group received general nutrition education and the dietary goals but did not receive skills training. Children's intake was assessed at baseline and at 3 months using 24-hour dietary recalls.ResultsWhile there were no significant group-by-time interactions (P > 0.25) for any of the primary outcomes, we found a significant main effect of time for FV intake (P = 0.04) indicating that both groups consumed more FV at 3 months (2.58 ± 0.30 servings/day) than at baseline (2.17 ± 0.28 servings/day; P = 0.03). Children in the intervention group who consumed few FV at baseline and showed high engagement with the technology increased their FV intake by 1.5 servings/day (P < 0.01). Children's taste/smell sensitivity significantly predicted their FV intake (P = 0.0446); for each unit of lower taste/smell sensitivity (indicating greater sensory processing abnormalities), FV intake increased by 0.13 ± 0.1 servings/day.DiscussionThis mHealth intervention did not yield significant between-group differences for changing consumption of targeted foods/beverages. Only children who consumed few FV at baseline and highly engaged with the technology increased their FV intake at 3 months. Future research should test additional strategies to expand the intervention's impact on a wider range of foods while also reaching a broader group of children who have ASD. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03424811.Clinical Trial Registration: This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03424811.

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“…In addition, video-conferencing services had a ten times increase in use, and delivery services had a 30% increase [ 8 ]. However, older adults are not in the age group that could reap the maximum benefits from Internet use as they are deemed not technology savvy and lack digital literacy [ 9 , 10 ]. The Internet, together with electronic gadgets, could be the solution to continue social interaction and support for older people during the pandemic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

For Better or for Worse? A Scoping Review of the Relationship between Internet Use and Mental Health in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Foong

Lim

Rokhani

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Older adults were advised to avoid social activities during the outbreak of COVID-19. Consequently, they no longer received the social and emotional support they had gained from such activities. Internet use might be a solution to remedy the situation. Therefore, this scoping review sought to map the literature on Internet use and mental health in the older population during the pandemic to examine the extent and nature of the research. A scoping review was conducted using eight databases—PubMed, Scopus, Ebscohost Medline, Ebscohost Academic Search, Ebscohost CINAHL Plus, Ebscohost Cochrane, Ebscohost Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, and Ebscohost SPORTDiscus, according to PRISMA guidelines. Two pre-tested templates (quantitative and qualitative studies) were developed to extract data and perform descriptive analysis and thematic summary. A total of ten articles met the eligibility criteria. Seven out of ten studies were quantitative, while the remainder were qualitative. Five common themes were identified from all the included studies. Our review revealed that Internet use for communication purposes seems to be associated with better mental health in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Directions for future research and limitations of review are also discussed.

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Effectiveness of Integrated Technology Apps for Supporting Healthy Food Purchasing and Consumption: A Systematic Review

Cited by 29 publications

References 74 publications

Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps in the French App Stores: Assessment of Functionality and Quality

Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps in the French App Stores: Assessment of Functionality and Quality

Effects of a mobile health nutrition intervention on dietary intake in children who have autism spectrum disorder

For Better or for Worse? A Scoping Review of the Relationship between Internet Use and Mental Health in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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