Effects of a Smartphone App on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Saudi Adolescents: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Dietary patterns and nutritional status during adolescence have a direct effect on future health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to promote fruit and vegetable intake among adolescents using a smartphone app called MyPlate. METHODS: This randomized intervention study was conducted in an urban area of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We included 104 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years, who were randomized into intervention (n=55) or control (n=49) arms. We examined the effects of MyPlate on fruit and vegetable intake over 6 weeks in the intervention group. Pre- and postintervention questionnaires were used in the intervention and control groups. RESULTS: The control group showed a significant increase in fruit consumption scores between baseline (1.15, SD 0.68) and postintervention (1.64, SD 0.98; P=.01), but no significant difference in vegetable consumption scores was observed before (1.44, SD 0.97) and after intervention (1.55, SD 0.90; P=.54). However, there was no significant difference between scores at baseline and after 6 weeks of using the smartphone app for fruit (1.48, SD 0.99 and 1.70, SD 1.11, respectively; P=.31) or vegetables (1.50, SD 0.97 and 1.43, SD 1.03, respectively; P=.30) in the intervention group. Our findings showed no significant impact of using a smartphone app on fruit and vegetable consumption. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a smartphone app did not significantly improve fruit and vegetable intake among adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05692765; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05692765