Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 May 5;4(2):e39.
doi: 10.2196/mhealth.3559.

Using Mobile Apps to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle Among Adolescents and Students: A Review of the Theoretical Basis and Lessons Learned

Denise Jantine Dute  1 , Wanda Jose Erika Bemelmans, João Breda
Affiliations

Using Mobile Apps to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle Among Adolescents and Students: A Review of the Theoretical Basis and Lessons Learned

Denise Jantine Dute et al. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. .

Abstract

Background: European adolescents and students tend to have low levels of physical activity and eat unhealthy foods, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased, which poses a public health challenge. Mobile apps play an important role in their daily lives, suggesting their potential to be used in health-promoting strategies.

Objective: This review aimed to explore how mobile apps can contribute to the promotion of healthy nutrition, physical activity, and prevention of overweight in adolescents and students. For the apps identified, the review describes the content, the theoretical mechanisms applied, and lessons learned.

Methods: The databases Scopus, MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched for English-language publications from January 2009 to November 2013. Studies were included if (1) the primary component of the intervention involves an app; (2) the intervention targets healthy nutrition, or physical activity, or overweight prevention; and (3) the target group included adolescents or students (aged 12-25 years).

Results: A total of 15 studies were included, which describe 12 unique apps. Ten of these apps functioned as monitoring tools for assessing dietary intake or physical activity levels. The other apps used a Web-based platform to challenge users to exercise and to allow users to list and photograph their problem foods. For 5 apps, the behavioral theory underpinning their development was clearly specified. Frequently applied behavior change techniques are prompting self-monitoring of behavior and providing feedback on performance. Apps can function self-contained, but most of them are used as part of therapy or to strengthen school programs. From the age of 10 years users may be capable of using apps. Only 4 apps were developed specifically for adolescents. All apps were tested on a small scale and for a short period.

Conclusions: Despite large potential and abundant usage by young people, limited research is available on apps and health promotion for adolescents. Apps seem to be a promising health promotion strategy as a monitoring tool. Apps can enable users to set targets, enhance self-monitoring, and increase awareness. Three apps incorporated social features, making them "social media," but hardly any evidence appeared available about their potential.

Keywords: adolescents and students; behavior change; health promotion; mHealth; mobile phones; nutrition; overweight; physical activity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: JB is a staff member of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. The authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this publication and they do not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the WHO.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Search strategy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Nader PR, Bradley RH, Houts RM, McRitchie SL, O'Brien M. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity from ages 9 to 15 years. JAMA. 2008 Jul 16;300(3):295–305. doi: 10.1001/jama.300.3.295. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Currie C, Zanotti C, Morgan A, Currie D, de Looze M, Roberts C, Samdal O, Smith ORF, Barnekow V. Social determinants of health and well-being among young people. Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study: International Report from the 2009/2010 Survey. 2010. http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/163857/Social-determ... .
    1. Barnekow V, Currie C, Letsch C, de Looze M, Morgan A. A snapshot of the health of young people in Europe. A Report Prepared for the European Commission Conference on Youth Health, Brussels, Belgium, 9–10 July 2009. Denmark: World Health Organization Europe; 2009. http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/70114/E93036.pdf .
    1. Conroy DE, Yang CH, Maher JP. Behavior change techniques in top-ranked mobile apps for physical activity. Am J Prev Med. 2014 Jun;46(6):649–52. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2014.01.010.S0749-3797(14)00040-3 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Youngworks Factsheet 2013. [2016-03-03]. http://youngworks.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/FactsheetMediagebruik.pdf .

LinkOut - more resources