The Health Journey of College Women with Eating Disorder Behaviors: A Qualitative Study on the Use and Unintended Consequences of Mobile Weight Loss Applications
Open Access
- Author:
- Eikey, Elizabeth Victoria
- Graduate Program:
- Information Sciences and Technology
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- June 05, 2017
- Committee Members:
- Lynette (Kvasny) Yarger, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Lynette (Kvasny) Yarger, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Andrea H. Tapia, Committee Member
Eun Kyoung Choe, Committee Member
Kathleen L. Keller, Outside Member
Madhu C. Reddy, Special Member - Keywords:
- eating disorders
mobile applications
health apps
weight loss
MyFitnessPal
Human Computer Interaction (HCI)
unintended consequences
self-diagnosed
users
design
Information Science
Information Technology
recovery
sociocultural perspective
mutual shaping
health journey
EDNOS
OSFED
UFED
anorexia nervosa
bulimia nervosa
college
university
women
qualitative
think-aloud
interviews
EAT-26
EDE-Q
quantified self
food journaling
mHealth
persuasive technology
food log
activity trackers
physical activity
exercise
diet
nutrition
mental health
psychology
smartphone
personal informatics
health informatics
self-tracking
calorie counting
students
CIA
logging
weight loss apps
mutual influence
eating disorder behaviors
disordered eating - Abstract:
- College can be a stressful time for students. During this transitional phase, many young women face new challenges, including unique social and academic stressors, which increase the risk of developing eating disorders and eating disorder behaviors. In fact, it is estimated that 7% to 18% of college women screen positive for eating disorders. College women are also increasingly using mobile health applications for diet, physical activity, and weight loss (weight loss apps) even when weight loss may be unnecessary. These apps support dieting and promote the thin ideal, which are related to the development of eating disorders. Thus, the combination of the college environment and use of weight loss apps may further exacerbate eating disorder behaviors among this population. However, the usage and consequences of weight loss apps in the context of eating disorders is not well known. Some aspects of weight loss apps may be helpful for eating disorder recovery while others may inhibit recovery and even harm users. Significant research exists on weight loss apps and the quantification of health behaviors, known as the quantified self, in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). However, most of these studies view weight loss apps as a positive influence on users and a way to combat the obesity epidemic in the United States. While the negative effects of social media and pro-eating disorder communities have been well studied, this research tends to ignore the potential negative implications of weight loss apps. In terms of positive use and impact, research tends to focus on online eating disorder support communities and treatment apps and often neglects potential positive aspects of non-eating disorder specific technologies, such as weight loss apps. In this dissertation study, I address these limitations in existing research by conducting a qualitative study, which includes think-aloud exercises and semi-structured interviews, with college women with eating disorder behaviors. The bulk of this research rests on the main study, which aims to understand the usage and unintended consequences of weight loss apps among this population. Through this research, I provide an understanding of why college women with eating disorder behaviors use weight loss apps, descriptions of how weight loss apps are used, and descriptions of unintended negative and positive consequences. This dissertation study is important because it is among the first research to consider the role of weight loss apps in the context of eating disorders. Findings from this research contribute to our understanding of eating disorders and app design. Specifically, I present a conceptual understanding of an individual’s health journey, which includes the changing nature of app use and the mutual influence between an individual and technology. Then I provide an identification of problematic aspects of design, which challenges the current narrative about weight loss apps. Based on problematic aspects of design, I make design suggestions, which are important for designing future weight loss apps and other similar health technologies to focus more on promoting healthy behaviors. This research emphasizes the need for a fundamental shift in how we think about and design for health within apps.