Abstract
The proliferation of digital technology among the population has caused an increased usage of health-oriented software and mobile applications, called mHealth. These are used for health services, information searches, communication about health, and monitoring health-oriented data. This chapter describes the usage of mobile technologies in health-related contexts, with special focus on eating behaviors and eating disorders. First, the chapter uncovers who are the principal users of mHealth apps. The studies report shares of mHealth app users from 20% to 56% in Euro-American countries. They also tend to be younger and have higher education. Next, the chapter identifies the mHealth apps that are used in health-related contexts, such as providing health-related education for patients or healthcare workers, patient monitoring mHealth tools, compliance and adherence apps, apps focused on behavioral change, and apps for remote data collection or monitoring, and also what are mHealth apps for healthy eating, dieting, and eating disorders. The chapter also reveals the functions of mHealth tools which are used to fulfill relevant health-related goals: planning, reminding, monitoring (e.g., calories, weight, BMI, exercise), providing feedback, counting steps, sleep monitoring, or social functions, such as communication and comparing to other users of mHealth. Next, the chapter describes the impact of mHealth tools on its users, which has been mostly found to be positive. The use of mHealth tools has the potential to motivate users toward positive behavioral change, such as weight management and healthy eating. The gamification principles can increase the motivation of mHealth users and improve the effectiveness of mHealth. Concerning eating disorders, the mobile apps can have both positive and negative impacts. Some people with eating disorders use apps to support their illness, but the apps can also help to support their treatment.
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Šmahel, D., Macháčková, H., Šmahelová, M., Čevelíček, M., Almenara, C.A., Holubčíková, J. (2018). Using Mobile Technology in Eating Behaviors. In: Digital Technology, Eating Behaviors, and Eating Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93221-7_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93221-7_6
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