Electronic food and exercise diaries: Knowledge gaps and future research

Electronic food and exercise diaries are increasingly popular, both on the Internet and mobile devices. These tools offer a potential low-cost solution to help control and manage weight in those who suffer from obesity, as well as reduce the strain of obesity on the Canadian healthcare system. The body of knowledge for electronic food and exercise diaries, however, is lacking as to their effectiveness and related issues. This paper presents several key issues pertaining to the use of these applications, as well as proposed research directions, in which theories integrated from different areas can address these gaps. These theories include those that address acceptance of technology, continuity of use, and ability to produce behavioral change. Preliminary research results indicate that the diaries are effective in weight reduction, but issues associated with initial adoption remain.