User-documented food consumption data from publicly available apps: an analysis of opportunities and challenges for nutrition research.

Background: The need for a better understanding of food consumption behaviour within its behavioural context has sparked the interest of nutrition researchers for user-documented food consumption data collected outside the research context using publicly available nutrition apps. The study aims to c...

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Publicado en:Nutrition Journal Vol. 17; no. 1
Autores principales: Maringer, Marcus, van't Veer, Pieter, Klepacz, Naomi, Verain, Muriel C. D., Normann, Anne, Ekman, Suzanne, Timotijevic, Lada, Raats, Monique M., Geelen, Anouk
Formato: research Journal Article
Publicado: BioMed Central 6/9/2018
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: 6/9/2018
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        atl: User-documented food consumption data from publicly available apps: an analysis of opportunities and challenges for nutrition research.
      aug:
        au:
          Maringer, Marcus
          van't Veer, Pieter
          Klepacz, Naomi
          Verain, Muriel C. D.
          Normann, Anne
          Ekman, Suzanne
          Timotijevic, Lada
          Raats, Monique M.
          Geelen, Anouk
        affil: Division of Human Nutrition Wageningen University & Research Wageningen The Netherlands
      sug:
        subj:
          Food Preferences
          Nutritional Assessment
          Research
          Diet Methods
          Eating Behavior
          Mobile Applications
          Human
          Validation Studies
          Comparative Studies
          Evaluation Research
          Multicenter Studies
          Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales
          Personal Resource Questionnaire
      ab: Background: The need for a better understanding of food consumption behaviour within its behavioural context has sparked the interest of nutrition researchers for user-documented food consumption data collected outside the research context using publicly available nutrition apps. The study aims to characterize the scientific, technical, legal and ethical features of this data in order to identify the opportunities and challenges associated with using this data for nutrition research.Method: A search for apps collecting food consumption data was conducted in October 2016 against UK Google Play and iTunes storefronts. 176 apps were selected based on user ratings and English language support. Publicly available information from the app stores and app-related websites was investigated and relevant data extracted and summarized. Our focus was on characteristics related to scientific relevance, data management and legal and ethical governance of user-documented food consumption data.Results: Food diaries are the most common form of data collection, allowing for multiple inputs including generic food items, packaged products, or images. Standards and procedures for compiling food databases used for estimating energy and nutrient intakes remain largely undisclosed. Food consumption data is interlinked with various types of contextual data related to behavioural motivation, physical activity, health, and fitness. While exchange of data between apps is common practise, the majority of apps lack technical documentation regarding data export. There is a similar lack of documentation regarding the implemented terms of use and privacy policies. While users are usually the owners of their data, vendors are granted irrevocable and royalty free licenses to commercially exploit the data.Conclusion: Due to its magnitude, diversity, and interconnectedness, user-documented food consumption data offers promising opportunities for a better understanding of habitual food consumption behaviour and its determinants. Non-standardized or non-documented food data compilation procedures, data exchange protocols and formats, terms of use and privacy statements, however, limit possibilities to integrate, process and share user-documented food consumption data. An ongoing research effort is required, to keep pace with the technical advancements of food consumption apps, their evolving data networks and the legal and ethical regulations related to protecting app users and their personal data.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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