Mobile games to improve healthier lifestyle amongst youth: "are we there yet" or should we move forward?

Abstract

The widespread use of mobile technology is opening innovative ways to improve health and health care delivery. In fact, the use of mobile apps arises as an effective answer to the urgent global need for a change in paradigm concerning attitude towards health and disease prevention. Nevertheless, the increasing number of available mobile apps on the market - along with the uncertainty about what motivates users to engage on using some - brings new challenges concerning users' motivation and engagement. This paper discusses strategies to overcome some of these challenges. We depart from "NutriBuddy", a project that aims to increase literacy on nutrition through mobile games and tangible interfaces installations. The strategy adopted is based on The Four Phase Model of Interest Development, which pursues to predict conditions for the development and deepening of learners' interest, eventually leading to deep personal engagement. From here, we venture some considerations for advancements of projects aiming at promoting and support healthier behaviors, suggesting broader and more comprehensive approaches.