Daily and Seasonal Influences on Dietary Self-monitoring Using a Smartphone Application

Christine A. Pellegrini*, David E. Conroy, Siobhan M. Phillips, Angela Fidler Pfammatter, H. Gene McFadden, Bonnie Spring

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To examine within-person variation in dietary self-monitoring during a 6-month technology-supported weight loss trial as a function of time-varying factors including time in the study, day of the week, and month of the year. Methods: Smartphone self-monitoring data were examined from 31 obese adults (aged 18–60 years) who participated in a 6-month technology-supported weight loss program. Multilevel regression modeling was used to examine within-person variation in dietary self-monitoring. Results: Participants recorded less as time in the study progressed. Fewer foods were reported on the weekends compared with weekdays. More foods were self-monitored in January compared with October; however, a seasonal effect was not observed. Conclusions and Implications: The amount of time in a study and day of the week were associated with dietary self-monitoring but not season. Future studies should examine factors that influence variations in self-monitoring and identify methods to improve technology-supported dietary self-monitoring adherence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)56-61.e1
JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume50
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2018

Funding

This research was supported by Grants RC1DK087126 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and K12HS023011 from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality . Support was also provided in part through the computational resources and staff contributions provided for the Social Sciences Computing Cluster at Northwestern University. Recurring funding for the Social Sciences Computing Cluster is provided by Office of the President, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Kellogg School of Management, the School of Professional Studies, and Northwestern University Information Technology. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Keywords

  • adherence
  • apps
  • diet
  • diet tracking
  • obesity
  • self-monitoring
  • technology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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