Fitness Apps Research Articles

(333) Evaluation and Characterization of Testosterone-Related Mobile Health Applications

Abstract Introduction Given the rise of digital health applications and direct-to-consumer (DTC) testosterone platforms, testosterone-related mobile applications (apps) pose significant challenges for both consumers and healthcare professionals. Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate trends and characterize the landscape of currently offered testosterone-related mobile health applications. Methods A search query of the term “testosterone” was conducted on the Apple app store. A comprehensive analysis of 23 testosterone-related apps was conducted, evaluating them based on categorization, primary service, specific health topics addressed, release years, cost model, user ratings, and evidence base. Apps were also evaluated on an established misinformation index score from one to five, whereby a score of five indicated complete accuracy and one, complete inaccuracy. Results Most apps were categorized as Health and Fitness apps, focused on sexual performance optimization, and addressed specific testosterone-related issues. A marked 600% increase in app releases were observed from 2020-22 when compared to prior to 2018. Apps frequently claimed to improve testosterone-related issues, but few cited scientific literature, resulting in a mean misinformation index score of 3.0. Conclusions The findings highlight the urgent need for healthcare professionals' active involvement in guiding patients through the digital health landscape. It is crucial to establish guidelines that ensure the provision of accurate, evidence-based information in health apps. Further research should focus on assessing the real-world impact of these apps on patient outcomes and developing strategies to mitigate digital health misinformation risks. Disclosure No.

The “Dark Side” of General Health and Fitness-Related Self-Service Technologies: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Directions for Future Research

While general health and fitness-related self-service technologies, such as health and fitness apps and wearable activity trackers, are steadily increasing in popularity, there are increasing reports of the potential harm they can cause to consumer well-being. An overview and analysis of the “dark side” of general health and fitness-related self-service technologies is therefore timely and appropriate. In the present work, the authors systematically identify and review the existing literature on this topic across various disciplinary backgrounds. They summarize available knowledge concerning the potential adverse consequences for consumer well-being resulting from the use of health and fitness apps and wearable devices and propose a conceptual framework to explain the relationship between using such technologies and these negative outcomes. Based on these insights, the authors identify current research gaps concerning the dark side of general health and fitness-related self-service technologies and propose corresponding directions for future research. They also discuss the implications of these findings for marketers and public policy makers.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle: exploring the role of social media and fitness applications in the context of social media addiction risk.

The popularity of social networks turns them into a legal method for promoting a healthy lifestyle, which benefits not only people but also different countries' governments. This research paper aimed to examine the Keep fitness app integrated into WeChat, Weibo and QQ as regards long-term improvements in health-related behaviors (physical activity, nutrition, health responsibility, spiritual growth, interpersonal relationships and stress management) and assess the associated risk of increased social media addiction. Students from Lishui University in China (N = 300) participated in this study, and they were formed into control and experimental groups. The Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale and Social Media Disorder Scale were used as psychometric instruments. The Keep app was found to improve respondents' scores on the parameters of physical activity, nutrition and health responsibility (P = 0.00). However, the level of dependence on social media did not change in either the control or the experimental group during the year of research (P ≥ 0.05). It is concluded that fitness apps can be an effective tool to promote healthy lifestyles among young people in China and other countries. The feasibility of government investment in fitness apps to promote healthy lifestyles is substantiated.

Instrument’s Reliability and Validity of Continuance Intention toward Using Mobile Fitness Apps Model: Pilot Study

Instrument’s Reliability and Validity of Continuance Intention toward Using Mobile Fitness Apps Model: Pilot Study

Exercise or lie down? The impact of fitness app use on users' wellbeing.

The use of fitness apps is becoming more and more widespread, and its impact on people's well-being has received more and more attention. The relationship between fitness app use and users' well-being and the influence mechanism was explored using structural equation modeling with upward social comparison as the mediating variable and self-control as the moderating variable. The questionnaire survey of 1,452 fitness app users over 18 years old shows that: (1) fitness app use is associated with users' well-being; (2) upward social comparison plays a mediating role in the relationship between fitness app use and users' well-being; (3) self-control has a moderating effect on the relationship between fitness app use and users' well-being. Self-control plays a significant moderating role between social comparison and well-being, upward social comparison can improve the well-being of high self-control users but reduce the well-being of low self-control users.

Motivation crowding effects on the intention for continued use of gamified fitness apps: a mixed-methods approach.

It has become an emerging idea for fitness apps to be gamified to intrinsically and extrinsically motivate user's usage intention or behavior. For the long-term success of gamified fitness apps, understanding what and how various motivations affect continued use is critical. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies was used to explore two research questions concerning gamified fitness applications. Specifically, the research questions focused on understanding the impacts of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations on continued usage. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate whether extrinsic motivations enhance or diminish the influence of intrinsic motivations. Results from qualitative study identified three intrinsic motivations (self-development, self-control and hedonic motivation) and two extrinsic motivations (social recognition and financial reward) in gamified fitness apps. Results from quantitative study indicated that intrinsic motivations (formed by self-development, self-control and hedonic motivation), financial reward and social recognition could significantly improve intention for continued use; and further, both financial reward and social recognition could crowd-in intrinsic motivations. This research offers insights into the phenomenon of motivation crowding effects on the intention to continue using gamified fitness apps.

Within the Lens of “Keep”: The Convergence of Consumer Context and Brand Development in Chinese Fitness Apps

Within the Lens of “Keep”: The Convergence of Consumer Context and Brand Development in Chinese Fitness Apps

Maintaining healthy lifestyle through fitness app use: A parallel mediation model from a nationwide survey.

Adolescents face various health challenges due to academic pressures and sedentary lifestyles. Establishing healthy habits during this critical period is essential for long-term well-being. With the widespread use of fitness apps, understanding their impact on adolescent health behaviors and the underlying mechanisms is crucial. Guided by social support theory and social comparison theory, this study examined the influence of WeRun, a fitness app within WeChat, on adolescents' adoption of healthy lifestyles. It investigated the correlation between WeRun usage and healthy behaviors, as well as the underlying mechanisms driving this relationship. A cross-sectional survey was conducted across 31 provinces and metropolitans in China, utilizing a random cluster sampling approach targeting high school and freshman students aged 15-24 (N = 1312). A parallel mediation model was employed to test the hypotheses. The analysis showed that WeRun use positively predicted both social support and social comparison. Meanwhile, both social support and social comparison were positively associated with healthy lifestyles. Additionally, WeRun use could not directly predict healthy lifestyles. However, WeRun use indirectly predicted healthy lifestyles via social support and social comparison. The study's findings revealed the pivotal roles of social support and social comparison as mediating variables in the relationship between adolescents' WeRun usage and adoption of healthy lifestyles. The results contributed to the current comprehension of the mechanisms linking app utilization to health-promoting behaviors. Furthermore, it provided valuable insights for promoting adolescent health and informed improved design strategies for fitness apps.

Learning Location From Shared Elevation Profiles in Fitness Apps: A Privacy Perspective

The extensive use of smartphones and wearable devices has facilitated many useful applications. For example, with Global Positioning System (GPS)-equipped smart and wearable devices, many applications can gather, process, and share rich metadata, such as geolocation, trajectories, elevation, and time. For example, fitness applications, such as Runkeeper and Strava, utilize the information for activity tracking and have recently witnessed a boom in popularity. Those fitness tracker applications have their own web platforms and allow users to share activities on such platforms or even with other social network platforms. To preserve the privacy of users while allowing sharing, several of those platforms may allow users to disclose partial information, such as the elevation profile for an activity, which supposedly would not leak the location of the users. In this work, and as a cautionary tale, we create a proof of concept where we examine the extent to which elevation profiles can be used to predict the location of users. To tackle this problem, we devise three plausible threat settings under which the city or borough of the targets can be predicted. Those threat settings define the amount of information available to the adversary to launch the prediction attacks. Establishing that simple features of elevation profiles, e.g., spectral features, are insufficient, we devise both natural language processing (NLP)-inspired text-like representation and computer vision-inspired image-like representation of elevation profiles, and we convert the problem at hand into text and image classification problem. We use both traditional machine learning- and deep learning-based techniques and achieve a prediction success rate ranging from 59.59% to 99.80%. The findings are alarming, highlighting that sharing elevation information may have significant location privacy risks.

Exploring the Impact of Gamified Experiences on User Engagement in Fitness Apps: A GAMEFULQUEST Perspective

Exploring the Impact of Gamified Experiences on User Engagement in Fitness Apps: A GAMEFULQUEST Perspective

Framework de gamificação aplicado a processos organizacionais

Abstract Purpose: This work has two objectives: 1. to present, based on theory, a Canvas framework, which helps in the analysis of elements used in the gamification of different processes, and 2. to use this framework to analyze multiple cases of sport, health, and wellness apps (fitness apps). We selected four apps for this study: My Fitness Pal, Nike Run, Nike Training, and Zombies, Run!. Originality/value: This study contributes to the theory with the systematization and organization of gamification components in a Canvas framework. For practitioners, this framework facilitates the creation and deepening of gamification initiatives. Design/methodology/approach: In order to support the comparison between cases, we used six gamification steps from the bibliography, divided into 1. define business objectives; 2. outline target behavior of players; 3. describe players; 4. determine activity loops; 5. entertain players; and 6. deploy appropriate tools. These steps were organized in a Canvas format. Through six propositions, we concluded that convergent and divergent factors exist between the cases studied, with no complete use of the gamification elements among the cases analyzed. Findings: Among the similarities, the following stand out: 1. search for users’ well-being, 2. use of the steps suggested for gamification, 3. factors of the player’s journey, and 4. fun. Among the differences are: 1. the specificity of each app, 2. ways of rewarding, and 3. motivating users, depending on the proposed activity and type of player.

Unveiling the Impact of Mobile Fitness Applications on Motivational Orientation in Sustaining Exercise Behaviors: A Qualitative Investigation

Abstract Notably, a lack of motivation appears as a significant contributing factor to physical inactivity, which raises one’s susceptibility to noncommunicable diseases. While research indicates a strong link between smartphone fitness applications (apps) and people’s motivational orientation towards physical activity and exercise, the theoretical basis of fitness app features for sustaining exercise routines remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of fitness apps as a behaviour modification tool on people’s motivation to maintain physical activity and exercise behaviour. Using individual semi-structured interviews, we collected detailed accounts from nine active male and female fitness app users (M age = 23.4 years, SD = 2.8). The findings of both inductive and deductive reflective thematic analysis revealed core themes emphasising that the use of fitness apps satisfies the participants’ psychological needs through fostering emotions of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Furthermore, fitness apps make it easier to track progress, challenge oneself, and compete against other exercisers, which further motivates participants to sustain their exercise behaviours. Confirming the use of fitness apps as an effective behaviour change tool for sustaining healthy exercise routines, the findings offer valuable feedback on specific app features for fitness software and wearable device developers that could potentially enhance the functionality and impact of their apps. Further discussions include limitations and areas for future research, such as discerning the role of fitness apps in sustaining motivation among diverse age groups with specific health, sport, or lifestyle goals in varying sensory, social, and affective contexts.

Identifying Behavior Change Techniques in an Artificial Intelligence-Based Fitness App: A Content Analysis.

In the field of artificial intelligence-based fitness apps, the effective integration of behavior change techniques (BCTs) is critical for promoting physical activity and improving health outcomes. However, the specific BCTs employed by apps and their impact on user engagement and behavior change are not explored sufficiently. This study investigates the Freeletics fitness app through a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the use of BCTs. In the quantitative analysis, fifteen unique BCTs were identified based on the Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy (V1). In the qualitative analysis, user reviews (n=400) were examined to understand perspectives on the app's effectiveness in promoting behavior change. Goal setting, action planning, self-monitoring of behavior, and social support were among the most prevalent BCTs identified in the Freeletics app, and their effectiveness in enhancing user engagement and promoting behavior change was also highlighted by user reviews. Among the areas of improvement identified in the study were the need for simplifying personalization options and addressing user concerns regarding the specificity of feedback. The study underscores the importance of integrating BCTs effectively within AI-based fitness apps to drive user engagement and facilitate behavior change. It contributes valuable insights into the design and implementation of BCTs in fitness apps and offers recommendations for developers, emphasizing the significance of goal setting, feedback mechanisms, self-monitoring, and social support. By understanding the impact of specific BCTs on user behavior and addressing user concerns, developers can create more effective fitness apps, ultimately promoting healthier lifestyles and positive behavior change.

Multi-media based Workout Assistance For Obese Adolescents

With the increasing prevalence of obesity among teenagers, it becomes crucial to promote their health and fitness. This paper presents an innovative approach that utilizes multi-media and augmented reality (AR) technology to enhance physical activity and combat the issue of adolescent obesity. The proposed method involves creating an interactive fitness environment through a smartphone application that seamlessly integrates AR elements. This software offers guidance to overweight adolescents during their workouts to ensure they maintain proper form. To keep users motivated and engaged, interactive content like videos and visuals has been incorporated. The objectives of the study involve the identification of functionalities within fitness apps aimed at helping overweight teenagers exercise more efficiently. It also entails the creation and deployment of a multimedia prototype application, along with the evaluation of user satisfaction on the system usages. The methodology involves several key stages, including requirement gathering, application design and development, and conducting assessments based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The evaluation results have demonstrated the potential of AR-enhanced training applications to combat adolescent obesity. This study showcases the potential of AR-enhanced training application as a promising path for improving health and well-being.

Enhancing Perceived Health Competence: The Impact of Persuasive Social Support Features in Health and Fitness Apps

This study investigates how users’ perception of persuasive social support features influences perceptions of their health competence in health and fitness apps. Within the support of existing theories/frameworks on social support, the study develops a research model and hypotheses. Quantitative data was collected from 469 health and fitness app users and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results demonstrates that providing users with a means to share their experiences out of the desire to boost their ego and gain social recognition as well as a means to learn new behaviors by observing and imitating other’s behaviors within the app increases their confidence in their capabilities to perform and maintain positive health and fitness behaviors and outcomes using the app. The findings suggest that users’ perception of their health competence can be significantly improved when social support features are incorporated into health and fitness apps.

The use of a fitness app for customer recommendation: linear models and qualitative comparative analysis

The use of technology within sports services has become an important field of study. Currently, the vast majority of sports services offer their users mobile applications to facilitate aspects such as communication and information. Within fitness centres, these mobile applications have become key elements to keep users informed and to reinforce behaviours such as loyalty towards the service. This study analyses the influence of mobile applications used in fitness centres on users’ recommendations of the app. Two methodologies were used to measure users’ perceptions: linear models and qualitative comparative analysis. The main results show that certain dimensions of the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) have a strong influence on users’ future app recommendations as well as the influence of users’ gender and age. It is important for managers of these sports services to implement technologies that provide two-way communication with users and therefore facilitate positive app recommendations. Furthermore, analysing the data using these two methodologies offers researchers a more detailed examination to better understand customers’ perceptions and, consequently, to establish more precise actions within the service.

Influence of Customer Knowledge Management on Mobile Fitness Application Customer Value Cocreation Through Flow Experience and Customer Involvement

In order to promote the innovative development of mobile fitness APP, based on value cocreation theory of customer-dominant logic, this paper discusses how the customer knowledge management, flow experience and customer involvement affect customer value cocreation in mobile fitness APPs. This study used convenience sampling and structural equation modeling to test the relationship between variables from questionnaire. Results revealed that customer knowledge management significantly and positively affected customer flow experience and customer flow experience significantly and positively affected customer value cocreation. Customer flow experience played a partial mediating role in the relationship through which customer knowledge management affected customer value cocreation, and customer involvement played a moderating role in the relationship through which customer flow experience affected customer value cocreation. Moreover, the results indicated that customer involvement significantly and positively regulated the effect of customer flow experience attention focus on customer value cocreation. Customer involvement not moderates the effect of perceived enjoyment in customer flow experience on customer value cocreation. Therefore, mobile fitness app enterprises or service organizations must strengthen knowledge management in industrial chain innovation development for strengthening the relationship with customers. Moreover, they should ensure flow experience to strengthen the psychological connection with customers and promote value cocreation to strengthen the behavioral connection with customers. These enterprises should improve the level of involvement to strengthen the emotional connection with customers.

Unpacking the Drivers of Dissatisfaction and Satisfaction in a Fitness Mobile Application.

This research investigates the factors influencing user satisfaction and dissatisfaction in fitness mobile applications. It employs Herzberg's two-factor model through text mining to classify Fitbit mobile app attributes into satisfiers and dissatisfiers. The Fitbit app was chosen due to its prevalence in the United States. The study analyzes 100,000 English reviews from the Fitbit app on the Google Play Store, categorizing attributes. It identifies three dissatisfying categories (functional, compatibility, paid services) and three satisfying categories (gratification, self-monitoring, self-regulation), comprising 25 sub-attributes. This classification offers in-depth insights into what drives user contentment or discontent with fitness apps. The findings contribute to the fitness app domain by applying text-mining and Herzberg's model. Researchers can build upon this foundation, and practitioners can use it to enhance app experiences. However, this research relies on user reviews, often lacking comprehensive explanations. This limitation may hinder a profound understanding of the underlying psychological aspects in user sentiments. Nonetheless, this study takes strides toward optimizing fitness apps for users and developers.

Understanding Physical Activity Determinants in an HIV Self-Management Intervention: Qualitative Analysis Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior.

People living with HIV have long life expectancy and are experiencing more comorbid conditions, being at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes, further exacerbated due to the HIV or inflammatory process. One effective intervention shown to decrease mortality and improve health outcomes related to CVD and diabetes in people living with HIV is increased regular physical activity. However, people living with HIV often fall short of the daily recommended physical activity levels. While studies show that mobile health (mHealth) can potentially help improve people's daily activity levels and reduce mortality rates due to comorbid conditions, these studies do not specifically focus on people living with HIV. As such, it is essential to understand how mHealth interventions, such as wearables, can improve the physical activity of people living with HIV. This study aimed to understand participants' experiences wearing a fitness tracker and an app to improve their physical activity. In total, 6 focus groups were conducted with participants who completed the control arm of a 6-month randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03205982). The control arm received daily walk step reminders to walk at least 5000 steps per day and focused on the overall wellness of the individual. The analysis of the qualitative focus groups used inductive content analysis using the theory of planned behavior as a framework to guide and organize the analysis. In total, 41 people living with HIV participated in the focus groups. The majority (n=26, 63%) of participants reported their race as Black or African American, and 32% (n=13) of them identified their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino. In total, 9 major themes were identified and organized following the theory of planned behavior constructs. Overall, 2 major themes (positive attitude toward tracking steps and tracking steps is motivating) related to attitudes toward the behavior, 2 major themes (social support or motivation from the fitness tracker and app and encouragement from family and friends) related to participant's subjective norms, 1 theme (you can adjust your daily habits with time) related to perceived behavioral control, 2 themes (reach their step goal and have a healthier lifestyle) related to participant's intention, and 2 themes (continuing to walk actively and regularly wearing the fitness tracker) related to participant's changed behavior. Participants highlighted how the mHealth interface with the avatar and daily step tracking motivated them to both begin and continue to engage in physical activity by adjusting their daily routines. Findings from this study illustrate how features of mHealth apps may motivate people living with HIV to start and continue sustained engagement in physical activities. This sustained increase in physical activity is crucial for reducing the risk of comorbid conditions such as diabetes or CVD. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03205982; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03205982.

The Effect of screen time on Children’s Behaviour

As more of their leisure time is spent with screens such as iPhones, tablets, computer games, and television, parents, health experts, and educators are concerned about the impact of screen time on children’s well-being. Excessive screen usage has a negative impact on the verbal, emotional, and physical growth of children. Because children and teenagers are naturally drawn to screens, the aim is to teach them how to use them responsibly. Screens may help promote self-esteem and give numerous chances for learning and growth when used with good screen objectives and abilities. Children, especially those above the age of three, respond to interactive programming that is entertaining, suited to them, and stimulates imitation or participation. Dynamic video games may encourage light-to-moderate or acceptable physical exercise in the near future. Families and child care providers may include more physical activity into daily routines by using fun, age-appropriate exercise (e.g., yoga or dance) and fitness apps or videogames. As a result of these concerns, parents are being advised to limit their children’s screen time on a daily basis, with particular time constraints for children and a general guideline to minimize screen time in teenagers. Key words: screen time, children's behaviour