Mobile Fitness Apps Research Articles

Run for the group: Examining the effects of group-level social interaction features of fitness apps on exercise participation

Mobile fitness apps have gained popularity as a way of improving healthy behaviors. This study investigates the design and influence of fitness apps from a novel “group” perspective, focusing on the effects of group-level social interaction features in exercise participation. Through empirical studies on a unique dataset, we propose and verify a conceptual framework that shows that (1) group role model inspiration and group comparison features facilitate the intra-group assimilation and inter-group contrast processes and further significantly improve group participation, and that (2) offline activities moderate the effects of group comparison features on group participation. This study contributes to the literature on online communities and fitness apps/service design by demonstrating the motivating power of group-level interactions and online–offline engagement. It also provides practical guidelines for fitness app developers.

The Influence of Incentive-Based Mobile Fitness Apps on Users' Continuance Intention With Gender Moderation Effects: Quantitative and Qualitative Study.

A survey conducted by McKinsey & Company reported that, as of May 2022, as many as 26% of Indonesians had recently started to engage actively in physical activity, 32% undertook regular physical activity, and 9% exercised intensely. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has spurred the rapid development of mobile fitness apps (MFAs) used to track people's sports activities. However, public interest in using these apps for any length of time is still relatively low. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of incentives (eg, self-monitoring, social support, platform rewards, and external influence) on the use of MFAs and the moderating effect of gender on users' continuance usage intention. The study used a mixed methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through a web-based questionnaire and qualitative data from interviews with 30 respondents. The quantitative data, collected from 379 valid responses, were processed using covariance-based structural equation modeling. The qualitative data were processed using thematic analysis. The MFAs included in this research were those used as sports or physical activity trackers, such as Apple Fitness, Strava, Nike Run Club, and Fita. The results of the data analysis show that 3 groups of incentives, namely, self-monitoring, platform rewards, and external influence (with the exception of social support), affect the perceived usefulness of these apps. Gender was also shown to moderate user behavior in relation to physical activity. The study showed that women were more likely to be motivated to exercise by social and external factors, while men paid greater attention to the tracking features of the app and to challenges and rewards. This research contributes to the field of health promotion by providing guidance for MFA developers.

Implementation on Large-Scale Mobile Fitness App Usage Analysis for Smart Health

Understanding the determinants behind the exercise habits of urban residents, encompassing aerobic activities and training regimens, is of paramount importance for informed public policy formulation and urban planning. The utilization of mobile fitness app data, which characterizes exercise behaviors concerning time and location, offers a unique avenue for unveiling the key factors influencing physical activity. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of mobile fitness app data, collecting information from over 14,000 cellular towers and studying the exercise patterns of 4,000 users. Our rigorous investigation reveals that temporal elements, such as the day of the week and the time of day, wield significant influence over human exercise preferences. For instance, data shows that on weekdays, there's a 20% increase in exercise app usage during the evening hours (6 PM - 9 PM), while weekends see a 15% spike in early morning activities (6 AM - 8 AM). Geographical location also emerges as a prominent influencer. Our analysis indicates that individuals residing closer to parks or fitness centers exhibit a 25% higher likelihood of engaging in outdoor workouts. Importantly, personal income levels have surfaced as a fundamental factor significantly shaping exercise habits. Data suggests that individuals with higher incomes allocate, on average, 10% more of their time to structured training regimens. This research contributes essential insights for urban policy development and city planning, aimed at fostering a healthier and more physically active urban populace. Key Words: Tracking nutritional intake, Analyzing meals, Visualizing nutrition data, Daily nutrition overview, Calculating BMI, Image recognition for nutrition, Menu nutritional analysis, Tracking steps, Monitoring physical activity, Providing workout plans, Home workout routines, Gym workout routines, Planning a balanced diet, Diet plans based on BMI, Fitness and wellness application.

Comparison between mobile fitness apps users and gender on exercise intensity in university students

University students are an exclusive subcategory because most of them are young adults at a transformation period, training to stay independently while concurrently working toward completion of their professional degrees. Previous research reported that only 30% to 50% of university students meet the recommended proportion of exercise for health advantage. Mobile fitness apps are invented on purpose to support exercise. Many health advantages like preventing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, it will marshal exercise and as mobile motivational tools because motivation is a major barrier to exercise. The present study was designed to investigate and compare the exercise intensity between the mobile fitness app users and none-users. The secondary purpose was to examine and compare the exercise intensity between gender from the university students. A total three hundred fifty-five university students were recruited in the study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaires- Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was used to collect exercise intensity of the participants in current study. All participants have been briefed on the objectives of this study and agreed to answer the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) and signed an informed consent form. The independent t-tests to determine the differences of the exercise intensity between mobile fitness app users and nonmobile fitness users. Independent t-tests also to find-out differences exercise intensity between gender in the university students, the statistical significance was set at p < .05. There were significant differences of exercise intensity level between nonmobile fitness apps users and mobile fitness apps users [ t (352) = 2.82, p = .005, d = 0.28]. It means the nonmobile fitness apps users had a significant higher exercise intensity if compared to the mobile fitness apps users. There were significant differences of exercise intensity level between male and female university students [ t (352) = 4.54, p = .001, d = 0.48]. Current results are similar to many studies found that female students participated in less exercise than their male counterparts.

Comparing Differences in Jogging Support across Various Land Use Types in Urban Built-Up Areas Using User-Recommended Routes

Land use types other than specialized athletic fields provide a variety of jogging environments, addressing the shortage of urban fitness facilities and promoting urban health as well as sustainability. Currently, there is limited research comparing the differences in jogging support among various land use types, which can assist decision-makers in setting priorities and targeted strategies for urban renewal, especially in urban built-up areas with limited land resources. Initially, spatial information, statistical data, and recommendation reason text were extracted from recommended routes in mobile fitness apps and categorized into six land use types. Subsequently, spatial potential was measured through descriptive statistics, buffer area analysis, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and line density analysis. Environmental preferences were gauged by text analysis using jieba word segmentation and grouped word frequency calculation. Finally, the measurement results of different land uses were compared, including scale differences, spatial differentiation, environmental perception, and environmental elements. The research found that streets, residential areas, campuses, parks, and greenways possess significant potential to support jogging, particularly streets. These types of land use exhibit varying spatial potentials and attractions in environmental preferences. Targeted recommendations have been proposed to support the renewal of urban built-up areas and research in related fields.

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

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.

The Effects of Adopting Mobile Health and Fitness Apps on Hospital Visits: Quasi-Experimental Study.

Overcrowding in public hospitals, a common issue in many countries, leads to a range of negative outcomes, such as insufficient access to medical services and patient dissatisfaction. Prior literature regarding solutions to reducing hospital overcrowding primarily focuses on organizational-level operational efficiency. However, few studies have investigated the strategies from the individual patient perspective. Specifically, we considered using mobile health and fitness apps to promote users' health behaviors and produce health benefits, thereby reducing hospital visits. This study estimated the causal effect of health and fitness app adoption on hospital visits by exploiting the staggered timing of adoption. We also investigated how the effect varied with users' socioeconomic status and digital literacy. This study provides causal evidence for the effects of health apps, extends the digital health literature, and sheds light on mobile health policies. This study used a data set containing health and fitness app use and hospital-related geolocation data of 267,651 Chinese mobile phone users from January to December 2019. We used the difference-in-differences and difference-in-difference-in-differences designs to estimate the causal effect. We performed a sensitivity analysis to establish the robustness of the findings. We also conducted heterogeneity analyses based on the interactions of postadoption indicators with users' consumption levels, city tiers, and digital literacy. The preferred model (difference-in-difference-in-differences) showed a significant decrease in hospital visits after the adoption of health and fitness apps. App adoption led to a 5.8% (P<.001), 13.1% (P<.001), and 18.4% reduction (P<.001) in hospital visits 1, 2, and 3 months after adoption, respectively. In addition, the moderation analysis shows that the effect is greater for users with high consumption levels, in high-tier cities, or with high digital literacy. This study estimated the causal effect of health and fitness app adoption on hospital visits. The results and sensitivity analysis showed that app adoption can reduce users' hospital visits. The effect varies with users' consumption levels, city tiers, and digital literacy. These findings provide useful insights for multiple stakeholders in the Chinese health care context.

The coping strategies in fitness apps: a three-stage analysis with findings from SEM and FsQCA

PurposeCombining the coping theory and social support theory, this study aims to reveal users' coping strategies for mobile fitness app (MFA) engagement and fitness intentions with a rigorous and comprehensive hybrid research approach.Design/methodology/approachA three-stage hybrid research design was employed in this study. In the first stage, this study utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate the associations between coping resources and coping outcomes. A post hoc analysis was conducted in the second stage to unveil the reasons behind the insignificant or weak linkages. In the third stage, the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) technique was applied to explore the various configurations of coping resources that lead to the coping outcomes.FindingsThe results in the three stages verify and compensate each other. The SEM results confirm the presence of two coping strategies in MFA, highlighting the importance of the intertwining of the strategies, and the post hoc analysis unveils the mediating role of positive affect. Moreover, the fsQCA results reinforce and complement the SEM findings by revealing eight alternative configurations that are sufficient for leading to users' MFA engagement and fitness intention.Originality/valueThis study offers a prominent methodological paradigm by demonstrating the application of multi-analysis in exploring users' coping strategies. In addition, the study also advances the understanding of the complexity of the mechanism that determines users' behavioral decisions by presenting a comprehensive interpretation.

The continuous usage of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mobile fitness applications: the goal-setting theory perspective

PurposeDue to the popularity of mobile devices and the development of artificial intelligence (AI), AI-powered mobile fitness applications (MFAs) have entered people's daily lives. However, the extant literature lacks empirical investigations that explore users' continuance usage intentions regarding AI-powered MFAs. To fill this research gap, this paper employs goal-setting theory to establish a research model for exploring how AI-enabled features (i.e. intelligence and anthropomorphism) affect users' perceptions of goal difficulties and goal specificities, which in turn affect their MFA continuance usage intentions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a survey method to analyze the research model, and a total of 223 responses are collected. The partial least squares (PLS) technique is utilized for data analysis.FindingsThe results show that intelligence and anthropomorphism affect the continuance usage intention of MFA users through their goal difficulty and specificity. Both intelligence and anthropomorphism positively influence goal specificity, whereas they negatively affect goal difficulty. In addition, goal specificity increases users' MFA continuance usage intention, whereas goal difficulty decreases users' continuance usage intention. The findings of this study provide theoretical contributions for AI technology adoption research and offer practical strategies for firms to retain MFA users.Originality/valueBased on goal-setting theory, this study reveals that as two primary AI features of contemporary mobile fitness apps, intelligence and anthropomorphism, can increase comprehension of users' perceptions regarding goal difficulty and specificity in the context of users' continuance usage intentions toward AI-powered MFAs.

Compete with Me? The Impact of Online Gamified Competition on Exercise Behavior

Online gamified competition utilizes competition as a core gamification design element with affordances from wearables and mobile applications to track competitive activities and visualize information in an integrated way to shape users’ exercise behaviors. However, a clear understanding of how online gamified competition cultivates exercise behaviors in different types of individuals is still lacking. We take into account the individual differences in exercise behaviors and categorize exercisers into three groups (active, moderate, and inactive) based on an adapted recency, frequency, and monetary value framework using key exercise behavior metrics. Theorizing online gamified competition as a means of social and temporal self-comparison, we examine the effect of performance feedback from two distinct modes of comparison (performance rankings and performance gap), and participants’ relationships with their social comparison referents (i.e., rivalry intensity), on the exercise behaviors of different exerciser groups. Our results reveal that online gamified competition has differential effects on exercise behaviors across different exerciser groups. Specifically, we find that positive performance improvements are more motivational for active and moderate exercisers, while performance deterioration relative to historical exercise performance level is more discouraging for inactive exercisers. Performance rankings exhibit a more salient effect for moderate and inactive exercisers, and rivalry intensity has a stronger positive effect on active exercisers’ exercise behavior. The strengthening effect of awareness affordances in mobile fitness apps is more notable with regard to the impact of rivalry intensity on moderate and inactive exercisers. We derive theoretical and practical implications of gamified information systems that use competition as a core design element for shaping the exercise behavior of individuals in different exerciser groups.

Human Fitness Application

Abstract: Everyone desires to be in good bodily and mental health. This requirement has been recognised by the developers developing fitness software. To accommodate the various needs of users, these applications offer customization and integrate diet and nutrition in addition to exercise and exercises. The apps have proven to be a huge comfort for those who don't have the time to regularly visit exercise facilities. It also provides free diet regimens and exercise recommendations. After discovering how crucial these apps are to their daily lives, many people have started utilizing them. This study aims to understand users' perceptions about mobile fitness app usage. The study basically examines the efficiency of fitness apps in terms of accessibility, time, and financial resources. It explores the advantages of mobile apps versus fitness centers as well. Primary data from 100 respondents were used to compile the necessary data on numerous related concerns. The paper offers ideas for enhancing and increasing user engagement with the apps. One of the most important benefits of using a fitness app is "motivation." Users are kept motivated by fitness app notifications and reminders that frequently remind them of their health goals. On their smartphone, users might also discover your fitness app at various times during the day. Fitness apps have simplified our lives and enable users to record their regular activities. As a result, they become more dedicated to their workouts and overall fitness.

System and Information Qualities in Mobile Fitness Apps and Their Effects on User Behavior and Performance

ABSTRACT Grounded in goal setting theory and other IS models, this study introduces a robust model, that examines the determinants of MFA goal setting and goal tracking use, and their impact on user behavior and achievement. The empirical results show that system quality and information quality are two key determinants of MFA goal setting and goal tracking use, which significantly influence a user’s goal achievement and behavioral change in terms of physical activities.

Consumption Variety in Food Recommendation

This research explores the justification and implications of incorporating consumption variety into mobile-based food recommendation systems. Our study makes use of data from a popular mobile fitness app, in which we can observe large volumes of daily food logs of thousands of users. We first confirm that consumption variety is associated with lower overall calories consumed, higher vegetable consumption, and lower snack consumption. Motivated by these empirical patterns about variety and eating, we then seek out to design a novel multicriteria food recommendation system (FOODVAR) that can accommodate for variety in recommended foods. We then assess the impact of including this additional variety criterion in recommendation system performance, where we show that the incorporation of variety improves the algorithm’s evaluation metrics.

What Determines Intentions to Use Mobile Fitness Apps? The Independent and Joint Influence of Social Norms

To better understand how different psychosocial components motivate the use of mobile fitness apps, this study integrates two major theories in behavior prediction, theory of planned behavior (TPB) and theory of normative social behavior (TNSB). An online survey was conducted with a random sample of undergraduate students (N = 558) registered at a large public university in Singapore. Results show that participants’ outcome expectations, descriptive norms, and perceived behavioral control predicted their intention to use mobile fitness apps, but not injunctive norms. Perceived behavioral control exerted stronger influence on use intention among current users than non-users. In the TPB-TNSB integrated model, group identification significantly moderated the relationship between descriptive norms and use intention, regardless of the user status. This study provides an improved understanding of how components of social influence affect the adoption of mobile fitness app by taking a novel approach to integrate two distinctive theories in behavior prediction.

Improving Body Satisfaction Through Fitness App Use: Explicating the Role of Social Comparison, Social Network Size, and Gender

ABSTRACT Body dissatisfaction is prevalent worldwide, fueling the highly lucrative diet and plastic surgery industry, with many adverse outcomes. Yet, limited attention has been dedicated to noninvasive interventions that effectively enhance body satisfaction. We argue that, by altering the target of the social comparison process, people can shift their focus from body appearance to physical activity level. The present study investigated whether social comparison in terms of physical activity level provided by fitness apps could affect users’ body satisfaction. A survey was conducted with 643 users of WeRun, the Chinese leading mobile fitness app. Subsequent analyses revealed that both upward and downward social comparison mediated the positive relationship between fitness app use and body satisfaction. Moreover, the users’ social network size and gender played a moderating role in the social comparison processes. Fitness app use was positively related to downward comparison for male users; social network size moderated the relationship between fitness app use and upward comparison for female users. The utility of fitness apps in mitigating body dissatisfaction is also discussed.

Promouvoir les applications mobiles de sport et d’activité physique : des promesses d’empowerment teintées d’enjeux stratégiques

Le nombre de personnes ayant recours à des objets connectés ou applications mobiles dans le cadre de leur activité physique va croissant. Cet article analyse la manière dont ces trackers et applications sont présentés par leurs producteurs, avec une focalisation sur deux pionnières (Fitbit et Strava). Leurs modèles de revenus exercent une influence majeure : il faut optimiser la vente de wearables, le téléchargement des applications et le recueil de données d’activité, tout en donnant l’impression que l’utilisateur est le principal bénéficiaire. Le storytelling à l’œuvre conduit donc à survaloriser les promesses de ces dispositifs, tout en occultant la compréhension de modèles d’affaires qui dépendent pour partie de l’exploitation secondaire des données. Les promesses en question sont façonnées pour cadrer avec les intérêts stratégiques des éditeurs d’applications.

Predicting Physical Exercise Adherence in Fitness Apps Using a Deep Learning Approach.

The use of mobile fitness apps has been on the rise for the last decade and especially during the worldwide SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which led to the closure of gyms and to reduced outdoor mobility. Fitness apps constitute a promising means for promoting more active lifestyles, although their attrition rates are remarkable and adherence to their training plans remains a challenge for developers. The aim of this project was to design an automatic classification of users into adherent and non-adherent, based on their training behavior in the first three months of app usage, for which purpose we proposed an ensemble of regression models to predict their behaviour (adherence) in the fourth month. The study was conducted using data from a total of 246 Mammoth Hunters Fitness app users. Firstly, pre-processing and clustering steps were taken in order to prepare the data and to categorize users into similar groups, taking into account the first 90 days of workout sessions. Then, an ensemble approach for regression models was used to predict user training behaviour during the fourth month, which were trained with users belonging to the same cluster. This was used to reach a conclusion regarding their adherence status, via an approach that combined affinity propagation (AP) clustering algorithm, followed by the long short-term memory (LSTM), rendering the best results (87% accuracy and 85% F1_score). This study illustrates the suggested the capacity of the system to anticipate future adherence or non-adherence, potentially opening the door to fitness app creators to pursue advanced measures aimed at reducing app attrition.

Recommendations for marathon runners: on the application of recommender systems and machine learning to support recreational marathon runners

Every year millions of people, from all walks of life, spend months training to run a traditional marathon. For some it is about becoming fit enough to complete the gruelling 26.2 mile (42.2 km) distance. For others, it is about improving their fitness, to achieve a new personal-best finish-time. In this paper, we argue that the complexities of training for a marathon, combined with the availability of real-time activity data, provide a unique and worthwhile opportunity for machine learning and for recommender systems techniques to support runners as they train, race, and recover. We present a number of case studies—a mix of original research plus some recent results—to highlight what can be achieved using the type of activity data that is routinely collected by the current generation of mobile fitness apps, smart watches, and wearable sensors.

Gamification narrative design as a predictor for mobile fitness app user persistent usage intentions: a goal priming perspective

ABSTRACT Many users fail to stick to the use of mobile fitness apps. As a key element of gamification mechanisms, effective gamification narrative design has the potential to draw the users in and motivates them to develop stronger motivations to achieve their real-world goals and higher persistent usage intentions of the mobile fitness App. Underpinned by goal priming theory, we conducted two controlled experiments, surrounding core aspects of gamification narrative design, namely narrative path agility and narrative target clarity. The results, which revealed that different forms of gamification narrative design impact users’ real-world fitness purpose and persistent usage intentions through different strategies, provide interesting implications for both theory and practice.