Smartphone applications for enabling healthy eating : fruit and vegetables a case study

![CDATA[Most ‘apps’ for weight loss are calorie counters with no focus on diet quality or incorporation of behavioral theories. The Global Burden of Disease 2010 report highlighted inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption as major risk factors. Younger adults eat least fruit and vegetables. As part of a Smartphone program to prevent weight gain, we created an ‘app’ to help young adults eat more fruit and vegetables. Methods: The ‘app’ allowed self -monitoring of daily fruit and vegetable intake; gave feedback against targets (2 fruit , 5 vegetables); and provided tips and recipes to facilitate goal achievement with the Transtheoretical model underpinning development . The ‘app’ was tested in a randomized controlled trial in 18 to 35 year olds with use restricted to intervention group. Intake was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks using validated short quest ions and food frequency questionnaire. Results: To date 88 participants have completed the program with 44 having access to the app. At entry more than half the participants consumed <2 servings of fruit daily. For vegetables, only two participants (one in each group) achieved the target . At three months the likelihood of increasing intakes in the intervention was OR 1.7 (95% CI 0.4 -7.7) for fruit and 3.1 (95% CI 1.0 to 9.7) for vegetables. Conclusions: As the study is ongoing, conclusions regarding success of the ‘app’ are premature. However, an app that addresses targeted dietary behaviors and developed using formative research, literature review and underpinned by behavioral theory has the potential for wide reach and efficacy.]]