People trying to lose weight dislike calorie counting apps and want motivational support to help them achieve their goals
Background: Two thirds of UK adults are overweight or obese and at increased risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Basic public health support for weight loss comprises information about healthy eating and lifestyle, but internet and mobile applications (app...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2017-03-01
|
| Series: | Internet Interventions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782916300392 |
| _version_ | 1811320258547417088 |
|---|---|
| author | Linda Solbrig Ray Jones David Kavanagh Jon May Tracey Parkin Jackie Andrade |
| author_facet | Linda Solbrig Ray Jones David Kavanagh Jon May Tracey Parkin Jackie Andrade |
| author_sort | Linda Solbrig |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Two thirds of UK adults are overweight or obese and at increased risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Basic public health support for weight loss comprises information about healthy eating and lifestyle, but internet and mobile applications (apps) create possibilities for providing long-term motivational support.
Aims: To explore among people currently trying to lose weight, or maintaining weight loss, (i) problems, experiences and wishes in regards to weight management and weight loss support including e-health support; (ii) reactions to Functional Imagery Training (FIT) as a possible intervention.
Method: Six focus groups (N = 24 in total) were recruited from a public pool of people who had expressed an interest in helping with research. The topics considered were barriers to weight loss, desired support for weight loss and acceptability of FIT including the FIT app. The focus group discussions were transcribed and thematically analysed.
Results: All groups spontaneously raised the issue of waning motivation and expressed the desire for motivational app support for losing weight and increasing physical activity. They disliked calorie counting apps and those that required lots of user input. All groups wanted behavioural elements such as setting and reviewing goals to be included, with the ability to personalise the app by adding picture reminders and choosing times for goal reminders. Participants were positive about FIT and FIT support materials.
Conclusion: There is a mismatch between the help provided via public health information campaigns and commercially available weight-loss self-help (lifestyle information, self-monitoring), and the help that individuals actually desire (motivational and autonomous e-support), posing an opportunity to develop more effective electronic, theory-driven, motivational, self-help interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:55:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7fce2e2c56544b959d04f311b2586701 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-7829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:55:54Z |
| publishDate | 2017-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Internet Interventions |
| spelling | doaj.art-7fce2e2c56544b959d04f311b25867012022-12-22T02:46:03ZengElsevierInternet Interventions2214-78292017-03-017C233110.1016/j.invent.2016.12.003People trying to lose weight dislike calorie counting apps and want motivational support to help them achieve their goalsLinda Solbrig0Ray Jones1David Kavanagh2Jon May3Tracey Parkin4Jackie Andrade5School of Psychology, Plymouth University & NIHR CLAHRC South-West Peninsula, UKSchool of Psychology, Cognition Institute, Plymouth University, UKSchool of Health Professions (Dietetics), Plymouth University, UKSchool of Nursing & Midwifery, Plymouth University, UKInstitute for Health & Biomedical Innovation and School of Psychology & Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, AustraliaSchool of Nursing & Midwifery, Plymouth University, UKBackground: Two thirds of UK adults are overweight or obese and at increased risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Basic public health support for weight loss comprises information about healthy eating and lifestyle, but internet and mobile applications (apps) create possibilities for providing long-term motivational support. Aims: To explore among people currently trying to lose weight, or maintaining weight loss, (i) problems, experiences and wishes in regards to weight management and weight loss support including e-health support; (ii) reactions to Functional Imagery Training (FIT) as a possible intervention. Method: Six focus groups (N = 24 in total) were recruited from a public pool of people who had expressed an interest in helping with research. The topics considered were barriers to weight loss, desired support for weight loss and acceptability of FIT including the FIT app. The focus group discussions were transcribed and thematically analysed. Results: All groups spontaneously raised the issue of waning motivation and expressed the desire for motivational app support for losing weight and increasing physical activity. They disliked calorie counting apps and those that required lots of user input. All groups wanted behavioural elements such as setting and reviewing goals to be included, with the ability to personalise the app by adding picture reminders and choosing times for goal reminders. Participants were positive about FIT and FIT support materials. Conclusion: There is a mismatch between the help provided via public health information campaigns and commercially available weight-loss self-help (lifestyle information, self-monitoring), and the help that individuals actually desire (motivational and autonomous e-support), posing an opportunity to develop more effective electronic, theory-driven, motivational, self-help interventions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782916300392Weight lossMotivationAppsBehaviour changeImageryDietPhysical activity |
| spellingShingle | Linda Solbrig Ray Jones David Kavanagh Jon May Tracey Parkin Jackie Andrade People trying to lose weight dislike calorie counting apps and want motivational support to help them achieve their goals Internet Interventions Weight loss Motivation Apps Behaviour change Imagery Diet Physical activity |
| title | People trying to lose weight dislike calorie counting apps and want motivational support to help them achieve their goals |
| title_full | People trying to lose weight dislike calorie counting apps and want motivational support to help them achieve their goals |
| title_fullStr | People trying to lose weight dislike calorie counting apps and want motivational support to help them achieve their goals |
| title_full_unstemmed | People trying to lose weight dislike calorie counting apps and want motivational support to help them achieve their goals |
| title_short | People trying to lose weight dislike calorie counting apps and want motivational support to help them achieve their goals |
| title_sort | people trying to lose weight dislike calorie counting apps and want motivational support to help them achieve their goals |
| topic | Weight loss Motivation Apps Behaviour change Imagery Diet Physical activity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782916300392 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lindasolbrig peopletryingtoloseweightdislikecaloriecountingappsandwantmotivationalsupporttohelpthemachievetheirgoals AT rayjones peopletryingtoloseweightdislikecaloriecountingappsandwantmotivationalsupporttohelpthemachievetheirgoals AT davidkavanagh peopletryingtoloseweightdislikecaloriecountingappsandwantmotivationalsupporttohelpthemachievetheirgoals AT jonmay peopletryingtoloseweightdislikecaloriecountingappsandwantmotivationalsupporttohelpthemachievetheirgoals AT traceyparkin peopletryingtoloseweightdislikecaloriecountingappsandwantmotivationalsupporttohelpthemachievetheirgoals AT jackieandrade peopletryingtoloseweightdislikecaloriecountingappsandwantmotivationalsupporttohelpthemachievetheirgoals |