Design of a mobile phone-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application to assess dietary intake and provide nudges to improve healthy eating choices: Formative research in Ghana and Vietnam

Background: Low quality diets are a public health problem affecting individuals of all ages worldwide. Nudging for Good (NFG) is a new research project aimed at developing, validating, and examining the feasibility of using artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology to improve adolescent girls' d...

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Main Authors: Braga, Bianca C., Aberman, Noora-Lisa, Arrieta, Alejandra, Bannerman, Boateng, Burns, Adam, Folson, Gloria, Huynh, Phuong, Koch, Bastien, McCloskey, Pete, Nguyen, Phuong Hong, Zakariah-Akoto, Sawudatu, Hughes, David, Gelli, Aulo
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143403
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author Braga, Bianca C.
Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Arrieta, Alejandra
Bannerman, Boateng
Burns, Adam
Folson, Gloria
Huynh, Phuong
Koch, Bastien
McCloskey, Pete
Nguyen, Phuong Hong
Zakariah-Akoto, Sawudatu
Hughes, David
Gelli, Aulo
author_browse Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Arrieta, Alejandra
Bannerman, Boateng
Braga, Bianca C.
Burns, Adam
Folson, Gloria
Gelli, Aulo
Hughes, David
Huynh, Phuong
Koch, Bastien
McCloskey, Pete
Nguyen, Phuong Hong
Zakariah-Akoto, Sawudatu
author_facet Braga, Bianca C.
Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Arrieta, Alejandra
Bannerman, Boateng
Burns, Adam
Folson, Gloria
Huynh, Phuong
Koch, Bastien
McCloskey, Pete
Nguyen, Phuong Hong
Zakariah-Akoto, Sawudatu
Hughes, David
Gelli, Aulo
author_sort Braga, Bianca C.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Background: Low quality diets are a public health problem affecting individuals of all ages worldwide. Nudging for Good (NFG) is a new research project aimed at developing, validating, and examining the feasibility of using artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology to improve adolescent girls' diets in urban Ghana and Vietnam. Objectives: Provide evidence to support the design of a new mobile phone intervention including: a) identifying the demand for mobile app to improve diets in adolescent girls; b) defining the intervention objectives and activities to be delivered via a mobile app; and c) assessing the potential for nudging functionality to be incorporated in the mobile app. Methods: This study used mixed methods including both literature and nutrition-related app reviews, as well as focus group discussions. A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases, and intervention studies using technology to improve nutrition outcomes of adolescents were included. Nine focus group discussions (five in Ghana and four in Vietnam) were undertaken with 61 girls to gauge smartphone and internet access and use and to obtain feedback on the prototype of a mobile app. Results: Nine studies met the selection criteria for the literature review, including seven randomized control trials (RCTs) and two systematic reviews. The evidence from the literature on how technology-based nutrition interventions should be conducted and what should be the best outcomes of success was mixed. Most of the 22 apps reviewed required manual entry of dietary information, and recommended diets based on motivation to change body weight. In the focus groups discussions, the adolescents suggested modifications on the prototype of the mobile app we presented, and indicated possibility to regularly take pictures of foods and beverages during meal time. Conclusion: We did not find an app available in either the Ghana or Vietnam markets that could improve dietary quality of adolescents without focusing on weight. Most apps available only had manual features to log food intake, which is time consuming. Moreover, adolescents expressed interest in using a new, modified version of the app we presented. We aim at developing a new mobile phone application based on AI technology that gives personalized and reliable nutrition advice to improve adolescent girls’ diets. However, the literature review was not conclusive on what should be the characteristics of an app and how interventions to measure an app’s impact on dietary quality should be conducted.
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spelling CGSpace1434032025-12-02T21:03:03Z Design of a mobile phone-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application to assess dietary intake and provide nudges to improve healthy eating choices: Formative research in Ghana and Vietnam Braga, Bianca C. Aberman, Noora-Lisa Arrieta, Alejandra Bannerman, Boateng Burns, Adam Folson, Gloria Huynh, Phuong Koch, Bastien McCloskey, Pete Nguyen, Phuong Hong Zakariah-Akoto, Sawudatu Hughes, David Gelli, Aulo adolescents technology healthy diets artificial intelligence nutrition diet Background: Low quality diets are a public health problem affecting individuals of all ages worldwide. Nudging for Good (NFG) is a new research project aimed at developing, validating, and examining the feasibility of using artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology to improve adolescent girls' diets in urban Ghana and Vietnam. Objectives: Provide evidence to support the design of a new mobile phone intervention including: a) identifying the demand for mobile app to improve diets in adolescent girls; b) defining the intervention objectives and activities to be delivered via a mobile app; and c) assessing the potential for nudging functionality to be incorporated in the mobile app. Methods: This study used mixed methods including both literature and nutrition-related app reviews, as well as focus group discussions. A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases, and intervention studies using technology to improve nutrition outcomes of adolescents were included. Nine focus group discussions (five in Ghana and four in Vietnam) were undertaken with 61 girls to gauge smartphone and internet access and use and to obtain feedback on the prototype of a mobile app. Results: Nine studies met the selection criteria for the literature review, including seven randomized control trials (RCTs) and two systematic reviews. The evidence from the literature on how technology-based nutrition interventions should be conducted and what should be the best outcomes of success was mixed. Most of the 22 apps reviewed required manual entry of dietary information, and recommended diets based on motivation to change body weight. In the focus groups discussions, the adolescents suggested modifications on the prototype of the mobile app we presented, and indicated possibility to regularly take pictures of foods and beverages during meal time. Conclusion: We did not find an app available in either the Ghana or Vietnam markets that could improve dietary quality of adolescents without focusing on weight. Most apps available only had manual features to log food intake, which is time consuming. Moreover, adolescents expressed interest in using a new, modified version of the app we presented. We aim at developing a new mobile phone application based on AI technology that gives personalized and reliable nutrition advice to improve adolescent girls’ diets. However, the literature review was not conclusive on what should be the characteristics of an app and how interventions to measure an app’s impact on dietary quality should be conducted. 2021-05-21 2024-05-22T12:13:52Z 2024-05-22T12:13:52Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143403 en https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134869 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Braga, Bianca C.; Aberman, Noora-Lisa; Arrieta, Alejandra; Bannerman, Boateng; Burns, Adam; Folson, Gloria; Huynh, Phuong; Koch, Bastien; McCloskey, Pete; Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Zakariah-Akoto, Sawudatu; Hughes, David; and Gelli, Aulo. 2021. Design of a mobile phone-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application to assess dietary intake and provide nudges to improve healthy eating choices: Formative research in Ghana and Vietnam. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2024. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134412.
spellingShingle adolescents
technology
healthy diets
artificial intelligence
nutrition
diet
Braga, Bianca C.
Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Arrieta, Alejandra
Bannerman, Boateng
Burns, Adam
Folson, Gloria
Huynh, Phuong
Koch, Bastien
McCloskey, Pete
Nguyen, Phuong Hong
Zakariah-Akoto, Sawudatu
Hughes, David
Gelli, Aulo
Design of a mobile phone-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application to assess dietary intake and provide nudges to improve healthy eating choices: Formative research in Ghana and Vietnam
title Design of a mobile phone-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application to assess dietary intake and provide nudges to improve healthy eating choices: Formative research in Ghana and Vietnam
title_full Design of a mobile phone-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application to assess dietary intake and provide nudges to improve healthy eating choices: Formative research in Ghana and Vietnam
title_fullStr Design of a mobile phone-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application to assess dietary intake and provide nudges to improve healthy eating choices: Formative research in Ghana and Vietnam
title_full_unstemmed Design of a mobile phone-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application to assess dietary intake and provide nudges to improve healthy eating choices: Formative research in Ghana and Vietnam
title_short Design of a mobile phone-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application to assess dietary intake and provide nudges to improve healthy eating choices: Formative research in Ghana and Vietnam
title_sort design of a mobile phone based artificial intelligence ai application to assess dietary intake and provide nudges to improve healthy eating choices formative research in ghana and vietnam
topic adolescents
technology
healthy diets
artificial intelligence
nutrition
diet
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143403
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