JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Obesity and related disorders are rising globally, especially in China, where they are linked to chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular issues. As intermittent fasting gains popularity for weight management, the use of IF apps has increased, yet their quality varies significantly. A systematic evaluation of these apps is essential to assess their effectiveness and reliability.

Objective:

This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of intermittent fasting apps available in the Chinese mobile app market. We concentrated on evaluating their features, quality, and overall user experience to help users avoid low-quality options and direct app developers to enhance their offers.

Methods:

A systematic search was performed across five major app stores in China, including the Apple App Store, Huawei AppGallery, Oppo Software Store, Vivo App Store, and Xiaomi Market. “Fasting” in Chinese and English was used as keywords to identify relevant apps, which were then screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The evaluation was conducted using the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS). The uMARS assessment examined four key subscales: engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information. Each app was independently evaluated by two raters who underwent uniform training to ensure consistency in scoring.

Results:

A total of 34 apps were assessed for the study. These apps mostly contain features such as fasting timer (100%), recording weight (97%), fasting reminder (85%), and recording water intake (85%). The results showed that the overall average uMARS score across the apps was 4.35 (SD 0.51), with the highest score reaching 4.97 and the lowest at 2.95. Notably, the functionality subscale had the highest mean score of 4.65 (SD 0.35), while the aesthetic subscale showed the greatest range of scores, from 2.17 to 5.00. The overall uMARS score was significantly positively correlated with the subscale scores (r=0.790-0.955, P<.001). The user ratings in the app stores did not significantly correlate with the uMARS scores ( r=-0.246, P=.161).

Conclusions:

This study provides valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of intermittent fasting apps in China, offering guidance for both users and developers. By focusing on functionality, aesthetics, engagement, and information, this research contributes to the improvement of digital health interventions in weight management.