Emerging Adults Report Internal, External, and Social/Environmental Motivations for Weight-Related Self-Monitoring Application Use.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the factors that motivate emerging adults to engage in weight-related self-monitoring (WRSM) and to determine the age of initiating WRSM.

Design: Mixed-methods cross-sectional study, including quantitative survey and semi-structured interviews.

Participants: Tracking-EAT participants came from the population-based sample of Project EAT (Eating and Activity over Time); 138 participants (mean age=26.5 years; range 22-29) completed a survey, 25 of which also completed a semi-structured interview.

Main outcome measure: Internal and external motivations for WRSM and the age when participants began WRSM were assessed quantitatively. Semi-structured interviews assessed how participants were introduced to and why they used WRSM.

Analysis: Descriptive statistics for quantitative measures. Inductive thematic analysis for qualitative analyses.

Results: Participants reported internal (e.g., trying to lose weight, change body shape), external (e.g., advice from health professionals, friends/or family), and social/environmental motivations (e.g., WRSM being ubiquitous in our culture). A sense of moral obligation to strive for health contributed to participants' motivation to engage in WRSM. Participants reported self-monitoring dietary intake and weight as young as 8 years old and exercise as young as 9 years old.

Conclusions and implications: Numerous factors converge to normalize and encourage WRSM, including internal, external, and social/environmental motivations. Future research could explore how the age of introduction and motivation for use affect the health impacts of WRSM.