Characteristics of Smartphone Applications for Nutrition Improvement in Community Settings: A Scoping Review

Reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press https://academic.oup.com Copyright © 2019 American Society for NutritionSmartphone applications are increasingly being used to support nutrition improvement in community settings. However, there is a scarcity of practical literature to support researchers and practitioners in choosing or developing health applications. This work maps the features, key content, theoretical approaches, and methods of consumer testing of applications intended for nutrition improvement in community settings. A systematic, scoping review methodology was used to map published, peer-reviewed literature reporting on applications with a specific nutrition-improvement focus intended for use in the community setting. After screening, articles were grouped into 4 categories: dietary self-monitoring trials, nutrition improvement trials, application description articles, and qualitative application development studies. For mapping, studies were also grouped into categories based on the target population and aim of the application or program. Of the 4818 titles identified from the database search, 64 articles were included. The broad categories of features found to be included in applications generally corresponded to different behavior change support strategies common to many classic behavioral change models. Key content of applications generally focused on food composition, with tailored feedback most commonly used to deliver educational content. Consumer testing before application deployment was reported in just over half of the studies. Collaboration between practitioners and application developers promotes an appropriate balance of evidence-based content and functionality. This work provides a unique resource for program development teams and practitioners seeking to use an application for nutrition improvement in community settings

An Evidence-Based Approach To Digital Inclusion for Health

This report is the first deliverable of the ?Digital Inclusion and Social Knowledge Media for Health: Frameworks and Roadmaps? project. It discusses the concept of social and digital exclusion and suggests that a focus on the digital mediation of social processes may provide more purchase for public service providers. This focus leads to the consideration of the way in which digital services might support a range of health-related factors which are both directly and indirectly linked to specific health outcomes. The report discusses some examples in the light of a consideration of the specific (and spatial) health needs and priorities of Solihull Care Trust. The report concludes with suggestions for directions for future research and development

Evidence Update On Obesity Prevention Across The Life-course

This Evidence Update, prepared for NSW Ministry of Health, provides a summary of evidence on the prevention of overweight and obesity in order to guide the development of the NSW State Obesity Plan 2012–2015. A solutions-focused approach to identifying promising strategies across different stages of the life course has been applied

The influence of sociocultural factors on attitudes and behaviours toward eating, weight, and body image : a comparative study of heterosexual and gay men

Thèse de doctorat présenté en vue de l'obtention du doctorat en psychologie - recherche intervention, option psychologie clinique (Ph.D)Chez les hommes, l’exposition aux corps musclés présentés par les médias traditionnels (p.ex., la télévision) est liée à une augmentation des comportements et attitudes potentiellement nocifs à l’égard de l’image corporelle et de l’alimentation (CAPNICA; p.ex., l’insatisfaction corporelle) de façon directe et indirecte, par le biais de l’internalisation d’un idéal corporel musclé et de la comparaison sociale. L’utilisation des médias numériques, notamment les médias sociaux (MS; p.ex., Instagram) et les applications de rencontres (AR; p.ex., Tinder), est devenue plus fréquente chez les hommes comparativement aux médias traditionnels. L’accessibilité aux médias numériques ainsi que leur nature inhérente centrée sur les images et l’apparence font en sorte que leur utilisation pourrait avoir un effet négatif sur la perception qu’ont les hommes de leur image corporelle. De plus, l’utilisation des MS et AR est plus fréquente chez les hommes gais et pourrait potentiellement contribuer à la prévalence plus élevée des CAPNICA chez ce groupe par rapport aux hommes hétérosexuels. Toutefois, l’utilisation des MS et AR chez les hommes et sa relation avec les CAPNICA demeure peu approfondie; la variation potentielle de cette relation selon l’orientation sexuelle demeure inexplorée. La présente thèse visait donc à examiner l’utilisation des MS et AR chez les hommes, son association avec les CAPNICA et les mécanismes pouvant sous-tendre cette association, tout en considérant l’orientation sexuelle des hommes. Deux études empiriques ont été effectuées afin d’atteindre cet objectif. La première étude visait à 1) décrire et comparer l’utilisation des MS (c.-à-d., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) et des AR chez les hommes hétérosexuels et gais et 2) évaluer les CAPNICA (insatisfaction à l’égard du gras corporel et de la musculation, symptômes liés aux troubles alimentaires, comportements liés à la musculation) et explorer si ceux-ci varient en fonction de l’orientation sexuelle et de l’utilisation des MS et AR. L’échantillon comprenait 382 hommes (n hétérosexuels = 261; n gais = 121) âgés de 18 à 30 ans. Les données ont été recueillies par le biais de questionnaires auto-rapportés. Les résultats indiquent que l’utilisation des MS et AR, de même que les CAPNICA, étaient significativement plus élevés chez les hommes gais que chez les hommes hétérosexuels. Certains symptômes liés aux troubles alimentaires (c.-à-d., préoccupations liées à l’alimentation, à la forme du corps et au poids) étaient significativement plus élevés chez les utilisateurs gais d’AR par rapport aux non-utilisateurs gais et aux hommes hétérosexuels. De façon générale, les niveaux de CAPNICA ne différaient pas entre les utilisateurs et non-utilisateurs des MS à l’étude. La deuxième étude visait à explorer 1) si l’utilisation des MS (c.-à-d., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) et des AR est associée aux CAPNICA (insatisfaction corporelle, symptômes liés aux troubles alimentaires, comportements liés à la musculation); 2) si l’internalisation de l’idéal corporel musclé et la comparaison sociale sous-tendent ces associations; et 3) si ces effets médiateurs varient en fonction de l’orientation sexuelle. L’échantillon comprenait 396 hommes (n hétérosexuels = 266; n gais = 130). Les données ont été récoltées par le biais de questionnaires auto-rapportés. Les résultats soutiennent peu le lien direct entre l’utilisation des médias numériques, notamment les MS, et les CAPNICA. Cependant, un lien indirect a été observé entre chaque plateforme numérique et chaque CAPNICA à l’étude par le biais d’au moins une des variables de médiation proposées. Enfin, la comparaison sociale ressort comme une voie par laquelle l’utilisation des AR pourrait mener à une augmentation des symptômes liés aux troubles alimentaires chez les hommes gais spécifiquement. Globalement, les résultats de la présente thèse suggèrent que la considération d’une pluralité de plateformes, de préoccupations et comportements liées à l’image corporelle et de caractéristiques individuelles est essentielle à une compréhension nuancée des associations entre l’utilisation des médias numériques et les CAPNICA chez les hommes. Ces résultats peuvent également avoir d’importantes implications pour le développement de stratégies de littératie numérique visant l’atténuation de l’influence potentiellement négative de l’utilisation des médias numériques sur les CAPNICA des hommes.Exposure to images of lean, muscular bodies transmitted by traditional media (e.g., television) has consistently been associated with an increase in men’s potentially unhealthy body image- and food-related attitudes and behaviours (PUBIFRAB; e.g., body dissatisfaction) directly and indirectly, through muscular-ideal internalization and appearance comparisons. Men’s use of digital media, namely social networking sites (SNS; e.g., Instagram) and dating applications (“apps”; e.g., Tinder), has come to surpass their use of traditional media. The accessibility and highly appearance-focused nature of these platforms suggests that their use may be deleterious to men’s body image. Moreover, SNS and dating apps are more frequently used by gay men, and may contribute to the higher rates of PUBIFRAB reported by this group, relative to heterosexual men. However, men’s SNS and dating app use and its relation to PUBIFRAB have received little research attention; sexual orientation-based variations in these associations remain unexplored. The present thesis aimed to elucidate men’s SNS and dating app use, its association with PUBIFRAB, and the mechanisms that underly this association. In all instances, sexual orientation-based variations were considered. Two empirical studies were conducted to meet this objective. The first study aimed to 1) describe and compare heterosexual and gay men’s SNS (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) and dating app use and 2) evaluate and explore sexual orientation- and user status-based variations in men’s PUBIFRAB. The sample consisted of 382 men (n heterosexual = 261; n gay = 121) aged 18 to 30. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. Results showed that, overall, SNS and dating app use was significantly more prevalent among gay men than heterosexual men. A similar pattern emerged for PUBIFRAB. Levels of eating disorder symptoms (i.e., eating, shape, and weight concern) were significantly greater among gay dating app users than gay non-users and heterosexual men. Overall, levels of PUBIFRAB did not differ between users and non-users of each SNS under study. The second study aimed to explore 1) whether men’s use of SNS (i.e., Facebook, Instagram Snapchat) and dating apps are associated with PUBIFRAB (body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and muscle-building behaviour); 2) whether these associations are mediated by muscular-ideal internalization and appearance comparisons; and 3) whether these mediation effects vary according to men’s sexual orientation. The sample comprised 396 men (n heterosexual = 266; n gay = 130) aged 18 to 30. Data were obtained via self-report questionnaires. Overall, results provided little evidence for direct associations between digital media use, namely SNS, and PUBIFRAB among both groups of men. However, there was an indirect association between men’s use of each digital media platform and each outcome variable under study through at least one of the proposed mediators. Finally, appearance comparisons emerged as a potential pathway through which dating app use may increase disordered eating among gay men, specifically. Overall, the results of the present thesis suggest that the consideration of a plurality of platforms, body image concerns, and individual characteristics is essential to a nuanced understanding of the association between men’s digital media use and PUBIFRAB. They may also have important implications for the development of digital media literacy-related strategies with the potential to attenuate the possible negative influence of digital media on men’s PUBIFRAB