Blog > User Perspectives of Diet-Tracking Apps: Reviews Content Analysis and Topic Modeling
To evaluate users’ views on diet-tracking apps, we used a different methodology from the experimental and survey data collection methods previously reported [10,15,18,33]. We performed a thorough content analysis of the app user reviews available on Google Play Store. The text mining method was used to detect the word and topic combinations that are frequently mentioned in user reviews. These word combinations (n-grams) were evaluated and the most frequent combinations were selected for further analysis.
Most of the identified topics included the use of positive words when describing apps in the reviews. In their feedback, users often use words such as “love,” “nice,” “easy,” “good,” and “amaze” to describe the apps. Positively rated topics were more common than negatively rated topics. Users who leave feedback for diet-tracking apps positively rate the possibility to track their food intake; use food scanners and create/access food databases in the apps; and consider the apps to be user-friendly, convenient, and easy to use overall. Weight loss was another important topic, appearing in 10% of user reviews (Table 3).
Self-monitoring is considered the cornerstone of successful weight management [17], and can be particularly helpful when combined with tailored goals [16]. Goal setting, which diet-tracking apps enable, is one of the relevant factors influencing behavior change, along with motivation and self-efficacy [15]. Together with apps that offer personalized meal planning programs [18], there is evidence that diet-tracking apps can efficiently support behavior change and weight management [18,19]. This study focused on apps that offer their users the ability to count their calories and track their diets (ie, diet-tracking apps). Although these features are present in apps that are widely applicable (ie, nutrition apps), the results obtained in this study cannot be generalized to the entire segment of nutrition apps. The inclusion of additional selection criteria and apps would be necessary to claim broader applicability of the results.
Although users rated the apps they use very highly on average (the overall rating for all apps was 4.4 out of 5, with individual app ratings ranging from 4.1 to 4.7), some features could still be improved to enhance the user experience. Owing to their presence and relevance in the dieting field, diet-tracking apps have attracted the interest of many researchers who have used app evaluation strategies in an attempt to better understand and evaluate app features [29-32]. The influence of diet-tracking apps on users’ food choices and their opinions about these apps have been tested using experimental and survey data collection methods [10,15,18,33]. Previous studies also assessed the consistency of information provided by different apps, and recommended further collaboration and harmonization of information [34,35]. The availability and use of mobile apps in health and nutrition management are increasing.
It pulls calories from Garmin after I sync my 530 to my Garmin Connect App, then I open my Lose It app while GC is open. You might check if you have a setting in Loseit that chooses to ignore activity calories. Discover the power of nutrition to enable a healthier weight, better mood, restful sleep, and longevity.
It may include links to online content that was not created by Michigan Medicine and for which Michigan Medicine does not assume responsibility. It does not replace medical advice from your health care provider because your experience may differ from that of the typical patient. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions about this document, your condition or your treatment plan. So in line with what I got credited with walking around the rest of the day to make up around 200 calories.
Often at the end of the day, which is far too late to impact my caloric decisions that day. “The WW app actually has a ton of great recipes so if you like to cook. While maybe seeing some weight loss, it’s not a bad deal,” said Caroline Susie, a registered dietitian nutritionist. And Staci said she’s willing to pay a monthly subscription for tracking food online. She said she loves the Weight Watchers app, which is now called WW. I really wanted to give this app 5 stars, especially since it’s helped me to lose more than 20 pounds in the last 6 weeks.
This can be unimeal reviews done (to a certain extent) by a deeper investigation of the review content and its sentiment. The implications of this study go beyond those for app developers as stakeholders; for example, in cases concerning health and nutrition, public policy and official institutions should be involved. Digital participation of current and future generations is increasing; there is also evidence that mobile apps are a potentially useful tool for shaping and tracking users’ diets [8,14]. By exploring users’ experiences with apps, along with their suggestions and comments, it is possible to better support the apps they need and improve their eating habits, health and diet management, and nutrition-related well-being.
Here is a list of free nutrition and nutrition tracker apps that help you eat healthy, choose healthier foods and stay on track. You can download or purchase these apps for your smartphone, tablet or computer. Top 50 negative trigrams (most frequently mentioned trigrams with ratings lower than 3).
Intervention studies focusing on diet-tracking apps show that users sometimes dislike the apps due to their complexity, lack of personalization and long-term support for users, and the focus on calorie counting, which can easily become an obsession [20]. Maintaining high levels of motivation throughout the weight management journey is challenging for most people, and diet-tracking apps sometimes fail to provide proper motivational support for sustainable weight loss and weight management [20,21]. In addition, the long-term effects of diet-tracking apps on food intake and user behavior remain unexplored [16]. These issues indicate that additional research on diet-tracking apps and their features is needed [7]. Given the importance of self-monitoring and diet tracking in motivating behavior change and persistence in healthier eating [8,10], we have been focusing on the nutrition apps that provide a calorie-tracking option (ie, diet-tracking apps). These apps promote diet tracking and maintenance of healthier habits and do not necessarily include weight loss as a goal, which has often been the focus of previous studies (eg, [7]).
Basic is free, but you can upgrade to Premium to unlock additional features. Whether you’re using these tools to identify trigger foods or create new habits, nutrition apps can help you to make sense of what you’re eating, how much, and develop a plan for your health moving forward. If you aren’t in the US loseit, chronometer, MFP are enot very useful as they only seem to have USDA databaseI use an opensource app called waistline. It uses the openfood database and you can get your own api key and add the USDA database as well and basically any food i scan is available.it does not try to sell you stuff or hide it behind a pay wall.
This selection was made due to their greater impact and ability to influence more individuals. Moreover, these apps make frequent updates to provide better service to their users, support the growing network of users, and avoid technical issues that are usually the subject of user complaints, including those in reviews. Because of these efforts, the apps used in this study were also quite homogenous in terms of their ratings (all 15 apps were rated above 4.1 out of 5). Including a broader range of apps (both in terms of greater variation in ratings and in terms of number of users and downloads) may reveal additional challenges users face when using diet-tracking apps.
And finally for anyone with IBS or digestive issues, tracking which foods sit well with you and which ones don’t can be a game-changer. Data preprocessing is a data mining technique that transforms raw data into an understandable format. Real-world data are often incomplete, inconsistent, contain a substantial amount of redundant information, and are likely to include many errors [41]. This is a critical and time-consuming process as the output depends on the quality of the data. It logs the activity, it just chooses not to give me the extra calories until some magical moment when it decides I do (or do not) deserve to get them.
This enables smarter food choices, whether you want to reach a healthy weight, build better eating habits, run faster, improve your sleep or extend your longevity. The Lifesum app tracks food intake and exercise habits, and offers personalised feedback, recipes and meal plans to suit your lifestyle. Technological advancements, including those related to mobile devices, are enabling developments of an increasing number of tools to help individuals take control of their health and nutrition.