New smartphone apps and online programs are proving to be popular for Australians in their pursuit for an active and healthy lifestyle.

But what exactly is out there and being taken up by users of the technology?

"As scientists we have a reasonably good idea of what works and what doesn't to make people change their health behaviours and become more active. However, are these principles being applied by developers?" asks Dr Corneel Vandelanotte from CQUniversity's Centre for Physical Activity Studies (CPAS).

LINK here for hi-res imageAccording to Dr Morwenna Kirwan, a collaborator on this study from the University of Western Sydney, there are more than 1000 physical activity-related apps on the market and even more web-based programs.

"So whilst we can't say whether they are effective or not, we can give them a rating (‘good' or ‘bad') and determine whether they have the potential to make a difference or not," says Dr Mitch Duncan, another CPAS researcher.  

CQUniversity Bachelor of Nursing student Tracey Flenady and Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science student Gavin Buzza will work with the CPAS team, which also includes Luke Fallon, to explore some of the more popular apps and online programs to see how well they rate based on health behaviour change principles.

The students are part of a cohort of winners of the Institute for Health and Social Science Research's High Achievers Vacation Research Scholarships (HAVRS) which were awarded to a total of eight high achieving undergraduate students. LINK here for story

The project aims to analyse the content of at least 200 smartphone apps and 750 websites. Results will be available in early 2013.