People are you trying to shed off those calories ardently? The weight loss apps may not be the answer to your woes! It seems that the dieting programs are faring a tad better than the slew of Smartphone weight-loss apps .
Weight loss routine
The researchers say that the people wanting to follow a weight loss routine may be helped by the new weight-loss apps in the Smartphones though the proven dieting programs may urge the individual towards weight loss better.
You must have been aware of the proud claim of the Smartphone weight-loss apps, admitting that they aid in the reduction of weight. But the apps still look forward to some major upgrading changes, as they may not be very helpful to people who neglect to keep an eye on their eating habits and do not follow an exercise regime, suggests a new study.
Weight-loss apps
Almost 30 appreciated weight-loss apps were put through an evaluation programme by the researchers. The experts compared weight loss approaches used in a weight loss program with the weight-loss strategies professed in these apps. The weight loss program that was used in the comparison had been people’s favorite and thoroughly researched in the past.
The results surprised as the evidence-based program or the weight loss program used about 20 different techniques for the individuals where as the apps just had about 3-4 strategies.
Weight loss apps v/s evidence based program
Most of the weight loss apps set a calorie goal and a weight loss goal; this is common to the popular weight loss program. But instead of all the apps detailing the exercise pattern, only 20% of the weight loss apps highlighted the exercise pattern to be followed on a weekly basis.
The apps did not make it clear as to how many days a week, or how many hours of exercise weekly, helps one in weight reduction. The apps also did not offer proper nutritional interpretation of the labels.
The paid apps, the free apps and the evidence-based programs had about the same strategies recommended for weight loss.
The people somehow didn’t follow the recommended program, or probably they were not motivated enough to follow the pattern suggested by the apps.
On the other hand, the evidence based program helps the individual in recognizing the factors that pressurizes them to break their strict healthy eating diet. The program also helps them stick to an exercise schedule but the apps did not recommend these ways.
But that doesn’t mean that the apps do not help. Sherry Pagoto, a weight-loss expert and associate professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who researched the study, feels there is a lot of possibility in this direction, “It would be interesting to see if we could expand upon the strategies they include, so that people who are at lower motivational levels could also benefit from them.”
According to Pagoto , “When people aren’t doing their tracking, it’s not because they’re forgetting; it’s because they’re having a hard time doing it.”
The research study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
