An App for Monitoring Eating Disorders?

Smartphones provide a helpful link to underserved populations.

It was only a matter of time before a smartphone application was developed to provide self-monitoring for people with eating disorders. As reported by the authors in the International Journal, people with eating disorders can now use a cell phone app to self-monitor meals, emotions, behaviors, and even thoughts (Int J Eat Disord. 2015. doi10.1002/eat.22386.[Epub ahead of print]. The mobile phone app also includes coping skills suggestions, and can link users to social support, and feedback. The app (developed by Recovery Record, Inc., Palo Alto, CA), is available at two Internet app stores. (See earlier story on the Recovery record website.)

The authors (the app’s developers, along with researchers at Stanford) tracked the number of downloads, usage, consumer ratings, and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire scores from 57,940 individuals collected over two years. Nearly 50% of users stated that they were not currently receiving clinical treatment for their eating disorder, and 33% stated they had never told anyone about their eating disorder.

The authors note that smartphone apps can reach traditionally underserved populations with eating disorders. Given that at least half of the users were not receiving traditional treatment for their eating disorder, this approach may reach many who do not currently seek care. The researchers are correct that establishing the effectiveness of this and similar apps is a logical next step.