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

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.