Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Obesity Surgery Smartphone Apps: a Review

  • Original Contributions
  • Published:
Obesity Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study are to review available smartphone applications (‘apps’) relating to weight loss surgery, and assess the level of medical professional involvement in their design

Methods

Smartphone apps relating to weight loss surgery were identified by searching the three app stores: Apple’s App Store, Google Play (Android) and Blackberry AppWorld. A data search was undertaken using keywords and phrases relating to weight loss surgery. Apps designed for the non-surgical treatment of obesity were excluded.

Results

A total of 38 apps were identified (Google Play = 17, Apple App Store = 21, Blackberry World = 0). Ten of 38 apps were duplicated therefore 28 apps were reviewed. Mean app rating was 3.6/5 and mean app cost was £1.89. Twenty-six of 28 (92.9%) apps were designed for use by patients. Apps were categorised into the following categories: patient information (ten), patient support forums (six), patient record tools (six), weight loss clinic advertisements (four), a journal app (one) and a conference tool (one). Health professional involvement was evident in 12 of 28 (42.9%) apps.

Conclusions

This study has identified that the majority of available apps relating to weight loss surgery do not have health professional input. The establishment of a ‘quality stamp’ provided by an established bariatric surgical body could improve the confidence with which patients and clinicians use these new information sources. Weight loss surgery apps offer a unique opportunity to provide accurate and reliable patient information and their use as part of the informed consent process should be explored.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Franko OI. Smartphone apps for orthopaedic surgeons. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011;469(7):2042–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Nielsen. (2012) Young adults and teens lead growth among smartphone owners. [Updated 10 Sep 2012]. http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/young-adults-and-teens-lead-growth-among-smartphone-owners/. Accessed 2 Dec 2012

  3. Makanjuola JK, Rao AR, Hale J, et al. Urology apps: a review of all apps available for urologists. BJU Int. 2012;110(4):475–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Google. Google play store. [Updated 22 Feb 2013]. https://play.google.com/store?hl=en. Accessed 2 Dec 2012

  5. O’Neill S, Brady RR. Colorectal smartphone apps: opportunities and risks. Colorectal Dis. 2012;14(9):e530–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. D4. A survey of mobile phone usage by health professionals in the UK. [Updated 09 Dec 2012]. http://www.d4.org.uk/research/survey-mobile-phone-use-health-professionals-UK.pdf. Accessed 2 Dec 2012

  7. Dasari KB, White SM, Pateman J. Survey of iPhone usage among anaesthetists in England. Anaesthesia. 2011;66(7):630–1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kailas A, Chong CC, Watanabe F. From mobile phones to personal wellness dashboards. IEEE Pulse. 2010;1(1):57–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Barton AJ. The regulation of mobile health applications. BMC Medicine. 2012;10:46.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. GSMA. Medical device regulation: health policy and position. [Updated 28 Mar 2012]. http://www.gsma.com/connectedliving/gsma-medical-deviceregulation-mhealth-policy-and-position/. Accessed 2 Dec 2012

  11. Freshwater MF. iPhone and iPad applications for plastic surgeons. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2011;64(10):1397–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. NIH Conference. Gastrointestinal surgery for severe obesity: Consensus Development Conference Panel. Ann Intern Med. 1991;115(12):956–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Dala-Ali BM, Lloyd MA, Al-Abed Y. The uses of the iPhone for surgeons. Surgeon. 2011;9(1):44–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pellegrini CA, Duncan JM, Moller AC, et al. A smartphone-supported weight loss program: design of the ENGAGED randomized controlled trial. England: BMC Public Health; 2012. 12 p104.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hamilton AD, Brady RR. Medical professional involvement in smartphone ‘apps’ in dermatology. Br J Dermatol. 2012;167(1):220–1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Rosser BA, Eccleston C. Smartphone applications for pain management. J Telemed Telecare. 2011;17(6):308–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff – Mobile Medical Applications. [Updated 21 Jul 2011]. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/ucm263280.htm. Accessed 2 Dec 2012

  18. Wee CC, Pratt JS, Fanelli R, et al. Best practice updates for informed consent and patient education in weight loss surgery. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009;17(5):885–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Faden RR, Beauchamp TL. A history and theory of informed consent. New York: Oxford University Press; 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  20. McCartney M. How do we know whether medical apps work? BMJ. 2013;346:f1811.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of Interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. North Bristol NHS Trust, Department of General Surgery, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK

    Daniel J. Stevens & Justin Morgan

  2. Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Department of General Surgery, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5DA, UK

    Noah Howes

  3. Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Bristol Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK

    John A. Jackson

Authors
  1. Daniel J. Stevens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John A. Jackson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Noah Howes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Justin Morgan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel J. Stevens.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stevens, D.J., Jackson, J.A., Howes, N. et al. Obesity Surgery Smartphone Apps: a Review. OBES SURG 24, 32–36 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1010-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1010-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation