142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Momentum App- Engaging Teens in Healthy Lifestyle Choices

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Jessica Havlak , MMG, Inc., Rockville, MD
Allison Nemec , Government Services, MMG, Inc., Rockville, MD
Matthew Rice , MMG, Rockville, MD
Erik Augustson, PhD, MPH , Tobacco Control Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Yvonne Hunt, PhD, MPH , Tobacco Control Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Heather Patrick, PhD , Health Behaviors Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Background:

In efforts to encourage teens to take control of their health and make better lifestyle choices,  the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and HealthCorps collaborated to create the Momentum Challenge app. The Momentum Challenge app is a free smartphone app that allows users to accept daily challenges to increase their mental, nutritional and physical health while sharing progress and competing with friends and classmates.

Methods:

To reach youth on a platform where they are, HealthCorps and NCI launched the Momentum app in 2013. Momentum was designed to make it easier for youth to access health information in a fun way by putting it in their hands.  Users log in, accept a daily challenge, and build momentum towards sustaining healthy behaviors long-term.

Results:

Since its launch in August 2013, there has been over 700 iOS downloads of the app. This presentation will discuss the growth in downloads and usage patterns among users. In addition, an Android version is set to launch in January 2014 to reach a greater audience.

Conclusions:

Engaging, interactive apps can be a successful way to reach teens and promote healthier lifestyles. By offering daily challenges, rewards, and allowing friendly competiveness, the Momentum Challenge app may help teens make better choices.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the importance of the NCI and HealthCorps partnership Discuss the importance for taking control of health and making better choices Review the app development and launch

Keyword(s): Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have several years of experience working on the Smokefree Project, including the Smokefree Teen project. I am very knowledgeable on the information that is being presented.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4395.0: Promoting Healthy Eating and Healthy Lifestyles (organized by HCWG)