Many individuals use the Internet or mobile devices to help them learn how to be healthy
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), many individuals who use their mobile devices or the internet for help learning how to be healthy have fortunately lost weight, started drinking less or quit smoking. These devices have been proved to support people in improving diet or enhancing physical activity.
The mobile-based program, as well as the Internet-based program, is demonstrated to help people eat better and become more physically active while reaching a moderate weight loss, said Ashkan Afshin from the University of Washington in the US.
Experts reviewed 224 studies carried on healthy adults during 1990 and 2013. The investigations analyzed the influence of using mobile phones, the Internet, stand-alone computer software tools or personal sensors to stimulate behavioral changes, such as increasing physical activity, improving diet, losing weight and reducing or stopping alcohol or tobacco use.
The research proved that members in the internet interventions changed their diets, reduced smoking and alcohol consumption, while lost body weight.
Participants who used their smartphone apps and receiving messages lost body weight and improved their physical activity.
Self-monitoring and programs that needed goal-setting tended to be more efficient.
If the programs added interactions with healthcare providers, they were even more efficient.
Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum who is the director of women’s heart health for Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City stated that the smartphone apps make it simpler for individuals to hold themselves accountable and follow their improvement. While previously people relied on pen and paper to monitor their progress and tended to be better able to pursue the program, now it is easier to use the smartphone app to do the same.
Ashkan Afshin mentioned that doctors could utilize such programs to assist people in reducing the risk of chronic illness or other cardiovascular condition, and improving their lifestyle behaviors.
The available studies are limited because most investigations last less than six months, supplying little knowledge on how sustainable and powerful the behavioral modifications will be over the long term.
In extension, most of the studies were carried in high-income nations with volunteers who were more highly motivated and educated than the general citizens.
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