Key messages from scientific research that's ready to be acted on
Got It, Hide thisEl Khoury CF, Karavetian M, Halfens RJG, et al. The effects of dietary mobile apps on nutritional outcomes in adults with chronic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis J Acad Nutr Diet. 2019;119:626-651.
How do dietary mobile applications (apps) impact nutritional outcomes in adults with chronic diseases?
Research has shown that dietary strategies like in-person counseling are one of the most effective ways to prevent and manage chronic diseases. A key challenge to delivering these strategies is that they take up a lot of time and resources for both health care providers and clients. Mobile apps delivered using a smartphone may be a promising alternative to in-person dietary counselling. As many people have smartphones, mobile apps could help provide easy access to interactive diet-related activities that promote positive nutrition.
This is a systematic review of 22 studies—the majority of which were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). These studies were published between 2011 and 2017, and included 1,873 participants. Eleven of the RCTs were included in a meta-analysis.
Overall, the meta-analysis found that dietary mobile apps may reduce weight, waist circumference, and calorie consumption in the short-term among people with chronic diseases, compared to no-app control groups. Although improvements in BMI, average blood sugar levels, and fruit and/or vegetable intake were also seen, they did not reach statistical significance, so it cannot be said that mobile apps help improve these outcomes at this point in time.
The apps included in the meta-analysis all focused on self-monitoring, and the majority used some type or element of a behavioural theory. Many also incorporated in-app counselling. While these results are promising, more research is needed on dietary mobile apps to: assess long-term effectiveness, content, and quality; look at their effects on different nutritional outcomes and chronic diseases; and determine if they are safe to use.
In people with chronic diseases, dietary mobile apps may be beneficial for self-monitoring, helping to improve various aspects of nutrition such as weight, waist circumference, and calorie consumption.