The Effects of Dietary Mobile Apps on Nutritional Outcomes in Adults with Chronic Diseases : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Publication Date

1-25-2019

Abstract

Abstract Background Dietary interventions are effective prevention and treatment strategies for chronic diseases; however, they require extensive commitment, time, and resources. Dietary mobile applications (apps) have gained popularity and are thus being incorporated into dietary management. Objective The aim of this review is to assess the effects of the use of dietary mobile apps on nutritional outcomes in adults with chronic diseases. Methods A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines using MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL databases. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO. Intervention studies evaluating the nutritional outcomes of dietary apps, published in English between January 1, 2007 and November 15, 2017 were included. The methodological quality of included articles was assessed via the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Quality Criteria Checklist: Primary Research. Heterogeneity was confirmed using the I2 index and a random-effects meta-analysis was performed for randomized controlled trials. Estimates of the pooled mean difference were calculated for app usage compared to no app usage. Main outcomes measure Nutritional outcomes, categorized as food-/nutrition-related, anthropometric measurements, pertinent clinical/biochemical data, and nutrition-focused physical findings, were extracted from the included intervention studies. Results Upon completion of the searches, 18,649 articles were identified, and data were extracted from 22 articles. Pooled estimates showed a significantly greater decrease in weight ("“2.45 kg, 95% CI "“3.33 to "“1.58 kg; P Conclusions The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that dietary mobile apps are effective self-monitoring tools, and that their use results in positive effects on measured nutritional outcomes in chronic diseases, especially weight loss.

ISSN

2212-2672

Publisher

Elsevier USA

Volume

119

First Page

626

Last Page

651

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Keywords

Chronic disease, Dietary mobile apps, Mobile apps, Nutrition intervention, Nutritional outcomes

Indexed in Scopus

no

Open Access

no

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