Phone diet apps don't work. Here's why

IF you think a phone is a dieter's best friend, you're wrong. A study into 30 of the most popular diet apps found that those designed to help dieters lose weight fail in their aim.

Exercise apps might not work after all. Sorry. Picture: Thinkstock

IF YOU think a phone is a dieter's best friend, you're wrong.

A study has found that mobile phone apps designed to help dieters lose weight often fail in their aim.

The problem is that they are lacking in motivational support and tips on changing behaviour, researchers said.

An American study into 30 of the most popular diet apps found that most included few or no behavioural weight-loss strategies.

Others discovered that free apps were just as useful as premium downloads.

Sherry Pagoto, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, said: "Apps do include evidence-based behavioural strategies, but only a narrow range."

But this will change, according Martyn Landi of British-based Apps magazine.

"Apps are becoming more sophisticated. We are seeing the introduction of some motivational techniques in fitness tracker downloads where messages can be pre-recorded so they play while a person is jogging" he said.

But until then? Buddy up with a friend to help you shift the kilos, rather than your phone.

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