Young People's Attitudes and Motivations Toward Social Media and Mobile Apps for Weight Control: Mixed Methods Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Effective prevention at a young enough age is critical to halt the obesity epidemic. Mobile health (mHealth) apps would potentially reach large numbers at low-cost. While there is already a profusion of lifestyle apps, they are mostly non-evidence-based and evidently ineffective against rising obesity prevalence.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore preferences and usage of lifestyle apps among young people in 6 countries.

Methods

A mixed methods study was conducted among young people aged 13 to 24 years residing in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Singapore, and New Zealand. Participants were recruited from Web advertisements on Facebook, asking for volunteers interested in mobile apps in general, not specific to lifestyle or health,

SUBMITTER: Nikolaou CK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6913715 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature