Adolescence is a critical period for establishing lifelong health habits, yet many adopt unhealthy behaviors, leading to obesity and other non-communicable diseases. To bridge this gap, mobile apps offer a promising platform for delivering health interventions through education. Effective user experience (UX) design is essential to ensure that these apps align with adolescent preferences and promote sustained behavior change.
In our study, we conducted an experimental usability testing of the EatsUp(R) mobile application, designed to monitor balanced dietary practices and active lifestyle habits among adolescents. The app's UX was assessed across six domains - Attractiveness, Perspicuity, Efficiency, Dependability, Stimulation, and Novelty - using a 7-point Likert scale. Our sample consisted of 30 high school students aged 15-18 who used the app for seven consecutive days, completing daily tasks and a user experience questionnaire.
Our results showed that most participants (90.0%) used the EatsUp(R) application for at least seven consecutive days, indicating strong usability and an overall positive user experience. The app received high ratings across all six parameters, with mean scores exceeding 0.8. Compared to established UX benchmarks, the app ranked in the "Excellent" category (top 10%) for five parameters, while Perspicuity was rated as "Good" (top 25%).
Our findings suggest that the EatsUp(R) app is well-suited for adolescents, promoting a positive user experience and encouraging healthy lifestyle habits. However, Perspicuity needs improvement to enhance ease of use.
Background
Adolescence is a critical period for developing behaviors related to nutrition and health. During this stage, they have transformative growth and openness to change, presenting unique opportunities to adopt dietary and physical activity modifications that can provide a foundation for a healthy lifestyle in later life. Unfortunately, many adolescents are leading unhealthy lifestyles, including eating poorly, being less active, and spending a lot of time in front of screens.
The Need for Innovative Interventions
In Indonesia, there has been a significant increase in adolescent obesity. According to the Indonesian National Health Survey (SKI), between 2013 and 2023, the prevalence of obesity in children aged 13-15 years increased from 2.5% to 4.1%, while in those aged 16-18 years increased from 1.7% to 3.3%. These figures highlight the growing health risk faced by Indonesian adolescents and underscore the urgency of early and effective interventions.
The Role of Mobile Apps
Mobile apps offer a powerful platform for delivering health interventions targeted to adolescents. They can provide educational messages, audio, and video files that encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors. Additionally, mobile apps can help users track their physical activity, nutrition intake, and physiological well-being.
Conclusion
Our study demonstrates the potential of the EatsUp(R) app in promoting a positive user experience among adolescents. The app's strong usability and high ratings across all six UX parameters make it an effective tool for encouraging healthy lifestyle habits. However, Perspicuity needs improvement to enhance ease of use. Future studies should include a more diverse population and explore features like gamification to enhance long-term engagement.