Nutrition tracking apps lack behavioral change elements, finds study

10 Sep 2021 --- Many of the smartphone apps used by consumers to track their nutrition are missing content features dedicated to behavior change. This is according to a US study, which highlights the variation between all of the available apps.

“The heterogeneity of these apps is probably one of the most fascinating things we’ve uncovered in this project,” says study author Telema Briggs of Rutgers University’s department of nutritional sciences.

He explains that the apps all help guide users to issues that are related to weight management but in slightly different ways.

“We have some apps that are more focused on behavior change, others on dietary intake and physical activity. Some do a great job connecting nutrient intake with risk for disease, while others are great at helping decision-making processes when shopping for groceries or ordering food at restaurants. The good news is that there’s really something for everybody.”The study examined which type of features is typically present in popular diet and nutrition apps. 

Behavior modification is integral 
The study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior analyzed both the free and paid versions of 15 top-performing diet and nutrition apps. They were assessed for features with the categories of dietary intake, anthropometrics, physical activity and behavior change strategies. 

The inclusion of behavior change features did not seem to be a significant factor in influencing average app ratings, cost or the number of installations. 

Briggs notes that behavior modification is an integral component of weight management interventions and nutrition counseling. 

Eleven of the free versions and 13 of the paid versions offered social support and motivational messaging. Structured meal planning of portion control became increasingly available as app functionality was upgraded through subscription purchases, appearing in six of the free versions and 13 of the upgraded versions.

Supporting dietetic practice
Of the hypothesized associations between metadata and the overall total number of app features, only app subscription cost was found to be positively correlated with the number of features.

This paper is part of a larger project that takes a closer look at the utility of diet and nutrition smartphone apps. 

“We examine their ability to serve as behavior change support systems for addressing weight management, specifically with the hopes of determining to what extent they’re suitable for supporting aspects of the nutrition care process in dietetic practice,” explains Briggs. 

Nutrient tracking apps are increasingly popular and expanding to target different concerns. For example, Cronometer recently added capabilities for immunity scores and women’s nutrition targets. 

Meanwhile, UK supermarket Sainsbury’s app helps shoppers set personalized fruit and vegetable intake goals. 

Edited by Katherine Durrell