JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mindful eating is an emerging area of research for managing unhealthy eating and weight related behaviours such as binge eating and emotional eating.

Objective:

Although there are numerous commercial mindful eating apps available, their quality, effectiveness, and whether they are accurately based on mindfulness-based eating awareness is unknown.

Methods:

A review of mindful eating available on Apple iTunes ™ was undertaken in March-April 2018. Relevant apps meeting inclusion criteria were subjectively appraised for general app quality using the Mobile APP Rating Scale (MARS) guidelines as well as appraised for their mindful eating content quality.

Results:

Twenty three apps met inclusion criteria and were appraised. Many of the reviewed apps were functional and had moderate scores in aesthetics. However, received lower scores in the domains of information and engagement. The majority of apps did not teach users how to eat mindfully using all five senses. Hence, were scored as incomplete in accurately providing mindfulness-based eating awareness. Instead, most apps were either eating timers, hunger rating apps, or diaries. Areas of potential improvement were comprehensiveness and in diversity of media as well as in the quantity and quality of information and the inclusion of privacy and security policies.

Conclusions:

Future mindful eating apps could be improved by accurate adherence to mindful eating. Further improvement could be achieved ameliorating in the domains of information, engagement, aesthetics, and have adequate privacy policies.