Post on 27-Jul-2015
“Get Appy” -
Apps for
Nutrition and
Health
Alicia Aguiar, MS RD LD FAND PhD CandidateHy-Vee Registered DietitianKirkwood Adjunct Faculty
Today’s presentation answers 3 questions…
Who are your clients or patients that might benefit from smart phone/ tablet applications?
How do you know which apps are good?
How can these help you as a practitioner?
Examples of apps that impact health such as weight management, diabetes, fitness and other health conditions
Questions Answered
Am I becoming more fit?
Am I eating what I need to be eating to be healthy?
Am I getting enough fluids?
Is my blood sugar under better control?
Am I happier?
Am I more productive?
Functions of Apps
Utility apps (Music, Calculating BMI, To Do Lists)
Resource apps (Recipes, Cooking Instructions, Exercises, Supplements)
Data collection
Data collection and analysis
Data exportation (Fitbit, MapMyRun, Weight Watchers, Blood Glucose Monitoring)
Just for fun…
App Selection Questions
Does it collect data?
Can I assume the data is accurate?
Can it plot data over time?
Can it provide analysis/ project results into the future?
App Selection Questions
Does it allow setting of goals?
Is it easy to use?
How interactive is it?
Is information accessible offline?
Does it provide exportability to other apps or a PC that can then be used for another program?
App Resources
Reviews from health professionals and publications
Reviews in the App Store
Colleague/ customer reviews
Tech reviews/recommendations
2014 Weight Loss App Review
http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/top-iphone-android-apps-weight-loss#1
2014 Fitness App Review
http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/292474/the-25-best-fitness-apps
Identify Key Health Goals
Weight maintenance or loss
Improve fitness or physique
Blood sugar management
Avoid allergens
Identify Key Health Goals
Sleep better
Make decisions about purchasing foods and products for health
Use time efficiently
Learn a new cooking technique
Be happier
Smartphone Self-Monitoring Comparison
Dietary Self-Monitoring, But Not Dietary Quality, Improves With Use of Smartphone App Technology in an 8-Week Weight Loss Trial, JNEB, April 2014
Christopher M. Wharton, PhD, Carol S. Johnston, PhD, RD, Barbara K. Cunningham, MEd, MS, RD, Danielle Sterner, MS, RD
n= 19, compared Lose It App, Smart Phone reminder or paper – all groups lost weight without significant differences
School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ Accepted: April 2, 2014; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2014.04.291
Smartphones and Behavior Change
J Med Internet Res. 2013 Apr 18;15(4):e86. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2583.
Dennison L1, Morrison L, Conway G, Yardley L.
Opportunities and challenges for smartphone applications in supporting health behavior change: qualitative study.
Young, healthy adults have some interest in apps that improve health – depends on usability, security
Smart Phones & Weight Loss
Adherence to a Smartphone Application for Weight Loss Compared to Website and Paper Diary: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, JMIR, April 2013Michelle Clare Carter, MA, RD; Victoria Jane Burley, MSc, PhD; Camilla Nykjaer, MSc; Janet Elizabeth Cade, MSc, PhD
N = 128 overweight volunteers Compared smartphone, website and food diary for 6 months and found smartphones had best adherance and lost the most weight, although insignificant.
Apps and Diabetes Monitoring
Smartphone-Based Glucose Monitors and Applications in the Management of Diabetes: An Overview of 10 Salient “Apps” and a Novel Smartphone-Connected Blood Glucose Monitor, Clinical Diabetes, Oct 2012
Joseph Tran, BS, Rosanna Tran, BS and John R. White Jr., PA, PharmD
These apps also provide alternative avenues in chronic management of multiple disease states in addition to diabetes. Features that store blood pressure and cholesterol data and weight management tools are included in some apps.
Apps and Diabetes Monitoring
As new apps continue to emerge and become more refined, smartphone users will have more options, which can ultimately improve their ability to effectively manage their diabetes.
In addition, new and emerging devices such as iBGStar and Eyesense may offer still more convenience for users to track their glucose levels while on the move, making the process of SMBG simpler than ever before.