Journal
TRANSLATIONAL BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE
Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages 320-325Publisher
SPRINGER INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING AG
DOI: 10.1007/s13142-013-0206-3
Keywords
Pediatric obesity; Childhood; Overweight; Mobile apps; Mobile health
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Funding
- NIDDK NIH HHS [P30 DK056350] Funding Source: Medline
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Mobile applications (apps) offer a novel way to engage children in behavior change, but little is known about content of commercially available apps for this population. We analyzed the content of apps for iPhone/iPad for pediatric weight loss, healthy eating (HE), and physical activity (PA). Fifty-seven apps were downloaded and tested by two independent raters. Apps were coded for: inclusion of the Expert Committee for Pediatric Obesity Prevention's (ECPOP) eight recommended strategies (e.g., set goals) and seven behavioral targets (e.g., do >= 1 h of PA per day), utilization of gaming elements, and general characteristics. Most apps lacked any expert recommendations (n=35, 61.4 %). The mean number of recommendations among apps that used recommendations was 3.6 +/- 2.7 out of 15, 56.1 % (n=32) apps were classified as games, and mean price per app was $1.05 +/- 1.66. Most apps reviewed lacked expert recommendations and could be strengthened by addition of comprehensive information about health behavior change and opportunities for goal setting.
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