Weight loss apps lacking critical features, say experts
Posted by staff / October 8, 2013 American Journal of Preventive Medicinecritical featuresweight loss
Weight-loss mobile apps lack most of the behavioural strategies people need to stay motivated and on track, a new study suggests.
In Tuesday’s online issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers looked at 30 weight-loss apps for iPhone and Android platforms to see if they included any of the 20 behavioural strategies that previous studies showed were effective for weight-loss and reducing risk for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
On average, the apps included about 19 per cent of the 20 strategies, the researchers found.
I’m not sure how apps can do everything for you but here are some areas that the study feels are lacking in current apps:
- weight-loss goal setting
- dietary goal setting
- calorie balance
- tips for stress reduction
- instructions on how to read labels
For more on this discussion, check out the article here: CBC.
Photo credit: Yael Weiss – Fotolia.com
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