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Health Behavior Theory in Popular Calorie Counting Apps: A Content Analysis
Siena F Davis1, Marisa A Ellsworth, Hannah E Payne
1Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States.
JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth
|March 4, 2016
Summary
Popular calorie counting apps often lack robust health behavior theory integration. This study found most apps contained minimal theoretical content, suggesting room for improvement in digital health tools.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Mobile Health Interventions
- Health Behavior Theory
Background:
- Hundreds of calorie counting apps exist in the Health & Fitness category.
- The integration of health behavior theory in these apps is largely unknown.
- Understanding theoretical underpinnings is crucial for effective behavior change.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the presence and extent of health behavior theory in popular calorie counting applications.
- To identify which, if any, popular apps effectively utilize health behavior theory.
- To provide insights for developers seeking to enhance the theoretical basis of their apps.
Main Methods:
- Content analysis of the 10 most popular calorie counting apps in the Apple App Store's Health & Fitness category.
- Development of a theory score to quantify the integration of health behavior theory.
- Systematic evaluation of app features against established health behavior models.
Main Results:
- The average theory score across the 10 evaluated apps was 5.6 out of a possible 60.
- My Diet Coach achieved the highest score with 15 points.
- MapMyFitness and Yumget scored 0, indicating no discernible integration of health behavior theory.
Conclusions:
- The majority of popular calorie counting apps incorporate minimal health behavior theory.
- There is a significant opportunity to enhance calorie counting apps with evidence-based theoretical frameworks.
- Future app development should prioritize the integration of established health behavior theories for greater efficacy.
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