TY - JOUR
T1 - Weight-related Self-monitoring App Use Among Emerging Adults is Cross-sectionally Associated With Amount and Type of Physical Activity and Screen Time
AU - Hahn, Samantha L.
AU - Kramer-Kostecka, Eydie N.
AU - Hazzard, Vivienne M.
AU - Barr-Anderson, Daheia J.
AU - Larson, Nicole
AU - Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2023/1/1
Y1 - 2023/1/1
N2 - Weight-related self-monitoring (WRSM) apps are often used by emerging adults to assist in behavior change. However, little is known about the relationship between WRSM among the general population of emerging adults and various physical activity and screen time behaviors. This paper examines associations between WRSM app use and various forms of physical activity and screen time among a population-based sample of emerging adults. Data come from EAT 2018 (N = 1,568, mean age = 22.0 ± 2.0 years), a population-based sample of emerging adults from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. Participants reported on the types of WRSM apps used (physical activity and/or dietary focused), in addition to how much time they spent doing physical activity, whether they practiced yoga, compulsive exercise, recreational screen time, social media use, and whether they viewed dieting/weight loss materials. Linear and logistic regressions were used to assess adjusted means and prevalences of outcomes. We found that physical activity-focused WRSM app users engaged in more hours of total (8.7 vs 7.2, P <.001), and moderate-to-vigorous (5.1 vs 4.3, P =.002) physical activity compared to non-users. Similar results were found for dietary WRSM app users compared to non-users. However, WRSM app users had higher levels of compulsive exercise and were more likely to view dieting/weight loss materials (Ps <.001). Findings suggest that although physical activity is higher among WRSM users, the types of physical activity and screen time behaviors WRSM users are engaging in may be harmful.
AB - Weight-related self-monitoring (WRSM) apps are often used by emerging adults to assist in behavior change. However, little is known about the relationship between WRSM among the general population of emerging adults and various physical activity and screen time behaviors. This paper examines associations between WRSM app use and various forms of physical activity and screen time among a population-based sample of emerging adults. Data come from EAT 2018 (N = 1,568, mean age = 22.0 ± 2.0 years), a population-based sample of emerging adults from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. Participants reported on the types of WRSM apps used (physical activity and/or dietary focused), in addition to how much time they spent doing physical activity, whether they practiced yoga, compulsive exercise, recreational screen time, social media use, and whether they viewed dieting/weight loss materials. Linear and logistic regressions were used to assess adjusted means and prevalences of outcomes. We found that physical activity-focused WRSM app users engaged in more hours of total (8.7 vs 7.2, P <.001), and moderate-to-vigorous (5.1 vs 4.3, P =.002) physical activity compared to non-users. Similar results were found for dietary WRSM app users compared to non-users. However, WRSM app users had higher levels of compulsive exercise and were more likely to view dieting/weight loss materials (Ps <.001). Findings suggest that although physical activity is higher among WRSM users, the types of physical activity and screen time behaviors WRSM users are engaging in may be harmful.
KW - adults
KW - compulsive behavior
KW - diet
KW - epidemiology
KW - mobile applications
KW - physical activity
KW - public health
KW - screen time
KW - self-monitoring
KW - yoga
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85177058435&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85177058435&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/00469580231212086
DO - 10.1177/00469580231212086
M3 - Article
C2 - 37970791
AN - SCOPUS:85177058435
SN - 0046-9580
VL - 60
JO - Inquiry (United States)
JF - Inquiry (United States)
ER -