Quality Assessment of Nutrition-Related Apps and Determinants of Their Use: Barriers and Facilitators
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15611/nit.2025.41.08Keywords:
mobile apps, nutrition, uMARS, mHealth, quality assessmentAbstract
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the quality and functionality of mobile nutrition apps available on the Polish Google Play Store using the uMARS (user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale) questionnaire, and to identify barriers and facilitators associated with their use in the mHealth domain.
Method: The app review was conducted in June 2023 within the Health & Fitness category. The selection was restricted to the free, most popular calorie-counting apps with a user rating of at least 4.0 and at least 5 million downloads, available in both Polish and English. Four apps met the inclusion criteria: MyFitnessPal, FatSecret, Fitatu, and YAZIO. Each app was tested for 14 days and subsequently assessed using uMARS across three age groups, with gender accounted for. Qualitative data on barriers and facilitators to app use were also collected.
Results: FatSecret achieved the highest overall mean score, followed by Fitatu and MyFitnessPal, while YAZIO received the lowest. Functionality was the highest-rated domain, whereas greater variability was observed in information quality and engagement. In the qualitative analysis, key barriers included concerns about data privacy, the cost of premium features, and difficulties maintaining consistent selfmonitoring and data entry. Reported facilitators included progress tracking, personalisation, integration with wearable devices, and motivation-support features.
Implications and recommendations: The findings of this study indicate that the scientific evaluation of nutrition-related mobile apps should extend beyond technical functionality to include the quality of the information provided and their potential to sustain user engagement. The results further support the validity of combining standardised app quality assessment with an analysis of the barriers and facilitators influencing their use, as these factors determine their practical utility and the sustainability of long-term use. In addition, this study contributes to the existing body of research on the quality of nutrition-related apps available on the Polish market, providing a basis for further comparative analyses and for future investigations into their effectiveness in shaping dietary behaviour.
Originality/value: This study integrates a standardised user-centred quality assessment of nutrition apps with a qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators of use, providing insights relevant to app design, health education, and further research on the effectiveness of mHealth tools.
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