Providers' Perceptions of the Impact of Weight Loss Apps on Users with Eating Disorders

Abstract

It is estimated that 30 million people in the United States have an eating disorder, and many more have unhealthy eating behaviors [5]. In addition to being psychological in nature, eating disorders are a social problem driven by the mass media promotion of the "thin ideal" [6]. More researchers have recognized the importance of studying technology on users' body image and eating behaviors [1, 4, 8, 9, 13]. Despite their popularity, few studies have considered the impact of health applications ("apps") for weight loss on users with disordered eating behaviors. To begin to address this understudied area, I consider eating disorder treatment providers' perceptions of these apps. Some researchers have urged providers to be aware of the existence, possibilities, dysfunctions, and impact of technology in relation to eating disorders [23, 110]. Yet few studies consider providers' perceptions of weight loss apps and how they think about them when diagnosing and treating eating disorder patients.