“Apps alone can’t do it. However, research also indicates that sustained use of the right apps in conjunction with professional support can certainly help achieve desired health outcomes. In other words, accountability seems to matter.”
https://globalnews.ca/news/4215969/do-fitness-apps-work/“You need motivational support to turn that knowledge into action…”
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/05/06/310136269/most-fitness-apps-dont-use-proven-motivational-techniques“Although there are 320,000 health and fitness apps on major app stores, she said, the researchers were only able to find six systematic reviews, which included only 23 randomized control trials — the gold standard for medical research — since 2008. These trials examined 22 currently-available apps that were designed to help with mental health, diabetes management and obesity. In a few trials, calorie-counting apps didn’t seem to help much with weight loss. One top app, when tested on its own for six months according to the study, “the intervention made almost no difference to the weight of the participants.”
https://globalnews.ca/news/4215969/do-fitness-apps-work/“Apps fail because tracking is boring work which most people tire of quickly (usually within the first week), and because most people don’t get much short-term motivation from long-term goals.”
https://psychcentral.com/blog/why-most-health-mental-health-apps-fail/“MyFitnessPal app is one of the consistently highest rated free apps for calorie monitoring and it contains database of 3 million food items. However, when tested on its own for 6 months, the intervention made almost no difference to the weight of the participants.29 This study also provided an insight on the usage of the apps during the trial, which showed that the logins to the app dropped sharply to nearly zero after 1 month from acquiring it. These three studies also suffered from a high overall attrition rate of more than 30% and the intervention groups lost more participants than the control groups. Another calorie-counting app FatSecret was tested as an addition to a weight-loss podcast made and previously proven effective by the same study team. The results showed no difference in weight loss between the groups. ”
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-018-0021-9Please consult a physician or other health care professional before beginning any diet or exercise program. Articles, blogs, recipes, videos, and any other information regarding health, fitness and nutrition is provided for educational purposes only, and not as medical advice. This information is not intended as a substitute for, nor does it replace professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care professional. Results may vary, and testimonials are not claimed to represent typical results.