![]() ![]() Yet, despite the high prevalence of overweight and obesity, there are few evaluations of the quality of weight-management apps, such that even within a review and analysis of mobile health apps for the most prevalent conditions by the World Health Organization, there was no mention of evaluating apps addressing overweight and obesity. These evaluation frameworks include the analysis of content source and expertise, information quality, app technology and design, user engagement and ease of use, and behavioral theories. A range of frameworks have been used to evaluate the quality of apps in a variety of medical and health promotion areas, such as cancer, diabetes, smoking, mental health, headaches, cardiology, alcohol, HIV, and pain management. To ensure that these apps are able to influence sustained positive health outcomes, quality assessment is necessary. Smartphone apps hold promise in supporting health behavior change and weight management. Simultaneously, a plethora of health- and fitness-related apps are now available to individuals through the commercial market (eg, the Google Play store and iTunes App Store) and their popularity is ever increasing. A total of 68% of Australian, 86% of British, and 35% of American smartphone users report downloading a smartphone app. Estimates of adult smartphone ownership are 64%, 54%, and 51% in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, respectively. ![]() Given the magnitude of the epidemic, treatment strategies and interventions with long-term effectiveness and a wide reach are required to address this major public health concern.Īmong researchers, there is growing interest into the use of smartphones to deliver behavioral interventions for health because of their cost advantages, ubiquity, and portability. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 reports 37% of adults (2.1 billion) globally are overweight or obese, with a prevalence of more than 60% in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Obesity is an accelerating global health challenge. ![]()
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