TY - JOUR
T1 - Correlates of weight-related self-monitoring application use during emerging adulthood in a population-based sample
AU - Hahn, Samantha L.
AU - Hazzard, Vivienne M.
AU - Larson, Nicole
AU - Klein, Laura
AU - Loth, Katie A.
AU - Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
PY - 2022/8
Y1 - 2022/8
N2 - Purpose: This study was designed to examine (1) the types of technologies or other applications (apps) emerging adults use to track their eating, physical activity, or weight; (2) who uses these apps and (3) whether eating and weight-related concerns during adolescence predict app use in emerging adulthood. Methods: Longitudinal survey data were obtained from EAT 2010–2018 (Eating and Activity over Time study, N = 1428), a population-based sample of ethnically/racially and socioeconomically diverse adolescents (mean age: 14.5 ± 2.0 years), who were followed into emerging adulthood (mean age: 22.0 ± 2.0 years). Data were used to examine sociodemographic correlates of physical activity- and dietary-focused app use. Adjusted, gender-stratified logistic regressions were used to investigate longitudinal relationships between eating and weight-related concerns in adolescence and app use in emerging adulthood. Results: Compared to men, women were more likely to use physical activity- (23.2 versus 12.5%, p < 0.001) and dietary-focused apps (16.1 versus 5.5%, p < 0.001). Among women, eating and weight-related concerns in adolescence, particularly unhealthy muscle-building behaviors (OR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.03–2.92), were associated with later dietary-focused app use. Among men, use of other muscle-building behaviors and body dissatisfaction in adolescence predicted use of physical activity- (ORother muscle-building = 1.60, 95% CI 1.03–2.49 and ORbody dissatisfaction = 1.67, 95% CI 1.06–2.65) and dietary-focused (ORother muscle-building = 2.18, 95% CI 1.07–4.47 and ORbody dissatisfaction = 2.35, 95% CI 1.12–4.92) apps 8 years later. Conclusions: Eating and weight-related concerns may predict later use of physical activity- and dietary-focused apps; future research is needed to understand whether use of such apps further increases eating and weight-related concerns. Level of evidence: III, well-designed longitudinal cohort study.
AB - Purpose: This study was designed to examine (1) the types of technologies or other applications (apps) emerging adults use to track their eating, physical activity, or weight; (2) who uses these apps and (3) whether eating and weight-related concerns during adolescence predict app use in emerging adulthood. Methods: Longitudinal survey data were obtained from EAT 2010–2018 (Eating and Activity over Time study, N = 1428), a population-based sample of ethnically/racially and socioeconomically diverse adolescents (mean age: 14.5 ± 2.0 years), who were followed into emerging adulthood (mean age: 22.0 ± 2.0 years). Data were used to examine sociodemographic correlates of physical activity- and dietary-focused app use. Adjusted, gender-stratified logistic regressions were used to investigate longitudinal relationships between eating and weight-related concerns in adolescence and app use in emerging adulthood. Results: Compared to men, women were more likely to use physical activity- (23.2 versus 12.5%, p < 0.001) and dietary-focused apps (16.1 versus 5.5%, p < 0.001). Among women, eating and weight-related concerns in adolescence, particularly unhealthy muscle-building behaviors (OR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.03–2.92), were associated with later dietary-focused app use. Among men, use of other muscle-building behaviors and body dissatisfaction in adolescence predicted use of physical activity- (ORother muscle-building = 1.60, 95% CI 1.03–2.49 and ORbody dissatisfaction = 1.67, 95% CI 1.06–2.65) and dietary-focused (ORother muscle-building = 2.18, 95% CI 1.07–4.47 and ORbody dissatisfaction = 2.35, 95% CI 1.12–4.92) apps 8 years later. Conclusions: Eating and weight-related concerns may predict later use of physical activity- and dietary-focused apps; future research is needed to understand whether use of such apps further increases eating and weight-related concerns. Level of evidence: III, well-designed longitudinal cohort study.
KW - Eating behaviors
KW - Eating disorders
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Physical activity
KW - Prevention
KW - Self-monitoring
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U2 - 10.1007/s40519-021-01349-4
DO - 10.1007/s40519-021-01349-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 35040079
AN - SCOPUS:85123097495
SN - 1124-4909
VL - 27
SP - 2107
EP - 2119
JO - Eating and Weight Disorders
JF - Eating and Weight Disorders
IS - 6
ER -