(EA03-20-25) Content Analysis and Categorization of Weight Loss Apps for Alignment With Personal Preferences

Scientific conference where the work was recently presented: ObesityWeek 2024

Date on which the work was previously presented at the scientific conference listed: November 3, 2024

Objectives: Individuals who wish to utilize mobile health applications (apps) to improve their diet and reduce weight have numerous options. These products vary in their approach and may or may not meet the expectations of every user. To understand the nuanced differences of these apps, we conducted a content analysis of the key features of publicly available diet-based weight loss apps.

Methods: A search engine and Apple and Android app stores were searched with variations of the phrase “diet mobile health apps for weight loss,” and the top results from health blogs, review sites, and app stores were assessed for relevance. Apps that were publicly available, had at least 50,000 downloads, and were focused on diet for losing weight were included.

Results: Twenty diet-based weight-loss mobile apps met the selection criteria, and the key features of each app were studied and summarized. Nineteen apps were available for both Apple and Android users, while one was available only for Apple users. Three broad categories for app focus were identified based on their general methods for weight loss: 1) counting calories and tracking, 2) specialized diets and meal planning, and 3) holistic wellness and behavioral change. Features such as weight tracking, food tracking, personalized feedback, or daily goal setting were common to most apps. Whereas features such as food photography, meal planning, barcode scanning, or community support were offered by some, making each app have a somewhat distinct combination of features.

Conclusions: Selecting the right weight loss app may be important for their efficacy for an individual. However, the availability of many diet-based weight-loss mobile apps may make it challenging for an individual to identify the best fit for their needs. Our categorization of the attributes of various apps may help direct user decisions based on their preferences. Future studies may investigate if the weight loss app adherence and efficacy increase if adapted based on such individualized preferences.

Funding Sources: N/A