Jóvenes universitarios, alimentación y aplicaciones móviles: una revisión de estudios

Encarnación López Martínez; Cristina González Díaz; Christian Fortanet van Assendelft de Coningh

doi:10.31637/epsir-2025-950

Authors

Encarnación López Martínez University of Alicante
Cristina González Díaz University of Alicante https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6981-0499
Christian Fortanet van Assendelft de Coningh University of Alicante https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2298-0014

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2025-950

Keywords:

Mobile app, usability, user experience, digital content personalization, nutrition, youth, Mediterranean diet, health

Abstract

Introduction: Apps are software programs that have become essential tools in our daily lives. In the educational field, they are allies for students, enhancing their learning and motivation. In the case of food-related apps, they can help them maintain a balanced diet and take care of their health. Methodology: bibliographic review of studies on nutrition apps, published from 2020 to 2024, in the Scopus database. Results: Various study proposals are presented, with different methodologies, to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of mobile apps in improving diet and eating habits, analysing the quality, privacy, and data security. Discussions: The use of apps for diet tracking is associated with positive changes in eating habits, such as increased intake of fruits and vegetables, helping to make better decisions and promoting healthier food choices in the long term. Conclusions: More in-depth studies should be conducted among university students over the years of their education to assess whether such intervention promote healthy and nutritious eating habits and move away from harmful dietary habits such as those based on ultra-processed foods.

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Author Biographies

Encarnación López Martínez, University of Alicante

Associate Professor at the University of Alicante since 2019, in the Dept. of Communication and Social Psychology. Master in Digital Communication and PhD student. Member of the Communication, Food and Consumption research group (FOODCO).

Cristina González Díaz, University of Alicante

Full university lecturer since 2018 in the Department of Communication and Social Psychology, with two recognised six-year research periods. She is director of the Communication, Food and Consumption research group (FOODCO). She has participated in numerous R+D+i projects and led two of them: 1) Study of the presence of health messages in food advertising (GRE12-18); and 2) Health claims in food advertising and consumer understanding (GV/2016/088). She has been a visiting researcher at several European universities: Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Edinburgh and University of Amsterdam. Her current line of research focuses on health claims in functional food advertising and consumer understanding.

Christian Fortanet van Assendelft de Coningh, University of Alicante

International PhD, on digital design, between the University of Alicante and Columbia University in New York. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Communication and Social Psychology at the University of Alicante. His career has always been linked to design since he was awarded a scholarship by the Poynter Institute in Florida, USA, for specialised training in journalistic design. He has advised international media companies such as The Wall Street Journal, Liberation, The Observer, Paris Match, Elle Magazine, Miami Herald and others. He specialises in eye-tracking tests and his research interests include interface design, cross-platform design, digital communication and user experience.

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