Abstract
Objective This review aimed at searching for scientific literature on mobile apps for the management of comorbid overweight/obesity and depression/anxiety and providing a brief and comprehensive summary of their main features, targeted groups, and relevant results. Methods A bibliographical search was performed in Pubmed, PsycNet, Web of Science, ResearchGate, and Lilacs databases. The terms “obesity” and “overweight” were introduced in combination with “anxiety” and “depression” and “mobile app (application),” “smartphone app (application),” “android app (applicattion),” “iOS app (application),” “mobile health app (application),” and “mHealth app (application).” Results The initial search eliciting 204 citations was reduced to 7 relevant papers (4 original articles, 1 brief communication, and 2 study protocols). All publications were from the last five years, most were produced by research teams from the United States. All had adult samples, and interventions mostly followed a cognitive behavioral framework. Regarding mobile apps, five studies only used one to monitor weight and physical activity, one study to provide therapy to improve psychological wellness, and one study to monitor cognitions and emotions. No mobile app was found for the simultaneous management of overweight/obesity and depression/anxiety. Conclusions The prevalence and costs related to overweight/obesity and depression/anxiety are significant and likely to increase. Very often these conditions overlap; thus, it would be recommendable to treat their comorbidity simultaneously. Nevertheless, no mobile app has been designed for this purpose, which would help to reduce service provision costs and make treatment more easily accessible for patients.
Highlights
During the last decades, technology has driven societies into an accelerated process of change
Excess body weight is known to be associated with increased prevalence of mental disorders [6,7,8,9]. is association seems influenced by gender, age [7, 9,10,11], and even race/ethnicity [8, 11, 12]
McCrea and colleagues [7] found that, in young women, having a disorder increased along with Body Mass Index (BMI), whereas in young men, probabilities were higher for both underweight and obese men; but these associations diminished in older age groups
Summary
Technology has driven societies into an accelerated process of change. Rajan and Menon [20] estimated the odds ratios (ORs) to be similar for developing depression in obesity (OR: 1.21–5.8) and vice versa (OR: 1.18–3.76) with a stronger association observed in women For anxiety disorders, they found ORs to be less strong (OR: 1.27–1.40). Given the high prevalence of these disorders reported in Mexico, overweight/obesity and depression/anxiety are public health priorities demanding cost-effective interventions to reduce their burden. Is review aimed at searching for scientific literature on mobile apps for the management of comorbid overweight/obesity and depression/anxiety and providing a brief and comprehensive summary of their main features, targeted groups, and, if available, relevant results. Findings would point the way for the design, development, and testing of an intervention program aiming at attending simultaneously overweight/obesity and depression/anxiety through the use of mobile apps
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