title: Development and feasibility testing of a smart phone based attentive eating intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attentive eating means eating devoid of distraction and increasing awareness and memory for food being consumed. Encouraging individuals to eat more attentively could help reduce calorie intake, as a strong evidence base suggests that memory and awareness of food being consumed substantially influence energy intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  The development and feasibility testing of a smartphone based attentive eating intervention is reported. Informed by models of behavioral change, a smartphone application was developed. Feasibility was tested in twelve overweight and obese volunteers, sampled from university staff. Participants used the application during a four week trial and semi-structured interviews were conducted to assess acceptability and to identify barriers to usage. We also recorded adherence by downloading application usage data from participants' phones at the end of the trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adherence data indicated that participants used the application regularly. Participants also felt the application was easy to use and lost weight during the trial. Thematic analysis indicated that participants felt that the application raised their awareness of what they were eating. Analysis also indicated barriers to using a smartphone application to change dietary behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An attentive eating based intervention using smartphone technology is feasible and testing of its effectiveness for dietary change and weight loss is warranted.
authors.affiliation: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. eric.robinson@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higgs
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jolly
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lycett
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aveyard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs