Mobile applications and improving the quality of life in people with obesity

When it comes to obesity, it is one of today's biggest problems from several perspectives. Obesity increases cardiovascular risk, can cause shortened life expectancy, and many others. The possibilities of treating obesity are growing every day, from pharmacological to surgical, but in the end, the key is to change life habits (lifestyle) that will enable a healthier life and a favorable trend in body mass index. Mobile applications stand out as very useful health intervention tool because they are available almost to everyone. The paper describes applications that count daily steps, caloric intake, and the ones which promote exercise. The most effective applications in reducing weight are those easy to use, combined with traditional healthy lifestyle methods, promoting healthy competition, giving positive feedback to users, with straightforward exercise and food intake plans and goal settings, apps measuring both the physical activity and caloric intake. Such applications improve the quality of life of people with obesity.