Smartphone apps for eating disorders: An overview of the marketplace and research trends.

OBJECTIVE

Apps purporting to assist with the management of eating disorders are proliferating; although less is known about (a) the safety or efficacy of the apps on the marketplaces and (b) if the research evidence supports dissemination of these apps. In this research forum, we seek to synthesize the current data and provide practical considerations around the use and research of these apps.

METHODS

A search of the iOS and Google Play stores was conducted in June 2021 to identify publicly available apps targeting eating disorders. A PubMed search was also conducted in June 2021 to identify relevant publications around smartphone apps for eating disorders.

RESULTS

Sixty-five apps that support the treatment of eating disorders were identified and coded across 105 data points on the publicly available mindApps.org website. The literature search revealed 13 articles. Seven percent of marketplaces apps offered any research support and the 13 published studies focused on only four apps.

DISCUSSION: There is a need for more translational research on smartphone apps for eating disorders. Current marketplace offerings present risks that may not be balanced by their limited evidence. Research efforts should focus on offering evidenced-based apps for the marketplace. Clinicians should weigh known and emerging risks and benefits of these apps within the context of research gaps when making decisions around use.