To help you choose the right weight management app, a list of top-rated iPhone apps has been reviewed by a registered dietitian (RD) on The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (A.N.D.) website at www.eatright.org/appreviews. Of the nine apps, each review gives a synopsis, the pros and cons, and the bottom line of the app as well as an RD rating out of 5 stars. Those listed were:
- Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker by MyFitness Pal: 4.5 stars
- Calorie Counter: 4 stars
- Calorie Counter: Diets & Activities: 4 stars
- Calorie Tracker by Livestrong.com: 4 stars
- Sparkpeople Food and Fitness Tracker: 4 stars
- Calorie Counter by MyNetDiary: 3 stars
- Lose it!: 3 stars
- Daily Burn: 2 stars
- Weight Watchers Mobile: 2 stars
These apps vary in price from free to just a few dollars per app, and depending on the app can be upgraded to the “Pro” level which will give you added features for an added price.
I tried the Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker by MyFitness. This app keeps track of my calorie and exercise goals based on the information that I entered into the app. For a free app this has an unbelievable data base of food listings including restaurants and packaged food items. For dinner one night I had “A Taste of Thai” Rice Noodles. I was able to scan the bar code with my phone, retrieve the nutrition information in just a few seconds and add it to my daily food diary. MyFitness is very user-friendly and makes collecting data for a 3-day diet diary, sometimes needed for doctor appointments, less of a hassle. It also has the option of posting progress messages to friends for added support. MyFitness app is also available for the Android phone.
Also included at www.eatright.org/appreviews are reviews of Diabetes and Gluten-free apps.