Dietary Diary App in promoting healthy eating habits – changes in body composition and the occurrence of metabolic disorders after 10 weeks

Objective
The aim of the study was to analyse changes in body composition and the occurrence of cardiometabolic disorders after 10 weeks of using the Diet Diary App (DDApp), which supports the implementation of population-based dietary prevention recommendations.

Material and methods
The DDApp includes 11 food groups, each with defined nutritional goals: a recommended minimum number of servings (per day or week) and a recommended maximum number of servings (per week). Users reported each consumed portion of food in the app. The DDApp was tested for 10 weeks in 40 participants. Measurements of body composition, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and blood glucose concentration were taken before and after 10 weeks of DDApp use. The number of nutritional goals achieved was calculated for each user.

Results
During the 10-week period, users achieved more dietary goals related to reducing their consumption of not-so-good foods (an average weekly increase of 0.30 goals, p < 0.01) as well as a 20.1%; reduction in the unhealthy diet index (nHDI, p < 0.01). After 10 weeks, the number of users with elevated TC decreased by 90%, SBP or DBP by 67%, and FBG by 54% (all with p < 0.01). Significant reductions were also observed in body weight (by 2.0 kg), body mass index (BMI, by 0.7 kg/m2), fat content (by 1.7 % body weight), waist circumference (by 1.7 cm), waist-to-height ratio (by 0.01), SBP (by 8.5 mm Hg), DBP (by 5.3 mm Hg), blood TC (by 43.5 mg/dl), and FBG (by 19.3 mg/dl).

Conclusions
The DDApp can effectively motivate users to improve their diet. Limiting the consumption of not-so-good foods, despite no change in the consumption of healthy foods, may lead to beneficial changes in body composition and a reduction in cardiometabolic risk factors.