Changing healthier habits is faster with new technologies

Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle, United States, have observed that people who want to adopt healthier habits such as having more physical activity, eating better or losing weight, achieve much faster when they use mobile devices or programs throughof the Internet.

This follows from a review of studies whose results publishes the magazine 'Journal of the American Heart Association', although most of the works analyzed lasted less than six months so it is difficult to know if these changes in habits remainedlong term.

"In both cases, internet -based programs or mobile devices can help be more physically active, eat better and achieve moderate weight loss for 3 to 12 months," said AFSHIN Ashkan, one of the study authors.

The researchers reviewed in total 224 studies with healthy adults between 1990 and 2013, in which the efficacy of using the Internet, mobile phones, individual sensors or computer tools to achieve behavior changes and improve diet, the physical activity was evaluated, lose weight and stop or reduce tobacco or alcohol consumption.

Among the findings, they saw how the participants who used applications through the Internet improved their diet faster, became more active and reduced their weight and tobacco and alcohol consumption.

Likewise, those who used mobile devices through applications on phones or tablets or sending text or voice messages also increased their physical activity and lost more weight.

Programs that have components such as setting objectives, automation and use several communication channels with adapted messages are usually more effective.And they also found how these initiatives are more effective if they include some kind of relationship with health professionals.

Thus, the authors explain, primary care doctors are key to helping their patients improve their life habits and reduce their risk of preventable diseases such as cardiovascular pathologies or diabetes.

Similarly, Ashkan details, "the effectiveness of new technologies in specific population groups such as the elderly or in less developed countries must be evaluated."