| My Diet Coach app | By InspiredApps (A.L) |
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| Clinical review |
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My Diet Coach app
My Diet Coach app
- An app aimed at females who want to lose weight.
The app allows the user to set a goal weight and track your progress, using a visual weight tracker. It uses inspiring tips, quotes, reminders and rewards to keep you motivated. The reward system is that virtual fashion items can be earned by completing healthy habit challenges, which can be used to dress a virtual avatar. For a more detailed description of the app, go to iTunes(external link) and for a detailed review, see reviews below.
| PROS | CONS |
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✔ The motivational messages can be individually targeted by each user. ✔ It has useful reminder messages to carry out healthy habit such as 'prepare vegetables'. ✔ The app has some useful tips for overcoming healthy eating barriers such as how to snack of healthy foods. |
✘ There are some controversial motivational messages relating to body image, such as ‘imagine getting rid of all the fat in your thighs. It will be worth it!’ ✘ It does not have restrictions on weight loss targets or rapid weight loss. ✘ The food database on the apple version is very limited and lacks relevance to NZ population. |
(Breadnbeyond & My Diet Coach, US, 2013)
Clinical review
Reviewer: Dietitian App Review Working Group, Auckland DHB
Date of review: July 2015
Platform: Android
Version: 4.3.6
Review: This app may be useful for a limited subgroup of the population - young, tech-savvy females who are trying to improve lifestyle habits. unfortunately this group may be particularly susceptible to negative effects from a selection of the healthy eating tips.
Safety concerns: Potential for some of the motivational messages to negatively impact body image. Lack of restrictions to limit weight loss targets could potentially be detrimental.
New Zealand relevance: The very limited food database renders the calorie tracking feature of this app (Apple only) virtually meaningless in NZ.
References
The following references relate to articles about apps for weight loss.
- Coughlin SS, Whitehead M, Sheats JQ. Smartphone Applications for Promoting Healthy Diet and Nutrition(external link): A Literature Review. Jacobs J Food Nutr. 2015;2(3):021
- Chen J, Cade JE, Allman-Farinelli M. The Most Popular Smartphone Apps for Weight Loss: A Quality Assessment(external link). JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Dec 16;3(4):e104. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.4334.
- Flores Mateo G, Granado-Font E, Ferré-Grau C, Montaña-Carreras X. Mobile Phone Apps to Promote Weight Loss and Increase Physical Activity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis(external link). J Med Internet Res. 2015 Nov 10;17(11):e253. doi: 10.2196/jmir.4836.
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Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly. |
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