• Cecile Slazus, Zarina Ebrahim, and Nelene Koen.
• Division of Human Nutrition, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: clazus@gmail.com.
• Nutrition. 2022 Sep 1; 101: 111690.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the use of mobile health applications as dietary self-monitoring tools, and their possible role in improving food choices.MethodsThis descriptive, cross-sectional study used self-administered surveys conducted among students (aged 18-25 y) and consisted of two phases. Phase 1 (N = 991; 65.9% women; mean age: 20.78 ± 1.51 y) assessed the need for and perceptions of mobile health applications to serve as dietary assessment tools. Phase 2 (N = 61; 75.4% women) comprised a 3-wk period of using MyFitnessPal; its corresponding survey assessed the application's usability and perceived efficacy in changing dietary choices. Dietary Instrument for Nutrition Education scores (part of both surveys), assessing dietary intake, were compared using a paired t test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsMost participants wanted to improve their diet to be healthier (89.7%) and to improve their weight (74.2%), and actively searched for information on how to accomplish this (55.7%). MyFitnessPal was reported to be easy to use (93.4%); however, difficulties were experienced in the selection of food items (39.3%) and portion sizes (63.9%). Users reported that MyFitnessPal helped them change their dietary intake (91.8%) and advance toward their personal weight and health goals (65.6%). A significant reduction in high-sugar food intake after the use of MyFitnessPal (P = 0.03) was found.ConclusionMost participants searched for information on how to improve their diet. MyFitnessPal, a mobile health app with a diet-tracking feature, was reported to be helpful in changing dietary intake; furthermore, use of the application over a 3-wk period led to a significant reduction in sugary food intake.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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