College students often struggle with eating well, which can hurt their grades, mood, and health later in life. Researchers looked at 11 studies testing whether health apps on phones could help students make better food choices. Most studies found that apps did help students eat more fruits and vegetables. However, the improvements were sometimes small, and scientists want more research to see if these changes last over time. The good news is that since college students use their phones constantly, apps might be a practical way to encourage healthier eating habits.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether smartphone and mobile apps designed to help with diet can actually change what college students eat
  • Who participated: 11 different research studies involving college and university students. The studies tested various phone-based apps and programs aimed at improving eating habits
  • Key finding: 10 out of 11 studies showed that mobile health apps helped students improve at least one eating habit. When researchers looked specifically at fruit and vegetable intake, 5 out of 6 studies found real improvements
  • What it means for you: If you’re a college student, using a nutrition app might help you eat more fruits and vegetables and make better food choices overall. However, the improvements tend to be modest, and it’s unclear how long the benefits last after you stop using the app

The Research Details

Researchers conducted a systematic review, which means they searched through scientific databases to find all published studies about mobile health apps helping college students eat better. They looked in six major databases of scientific research published through January 2025. They only included studies that tested real interventions (not just theoretical ones) and measured actual changes in what students ate. The studies they reviewed included both randomized controlled trials (where students were randomly assigned to use an app or not) and before-and-after studies (where researchers measured eating habits before and after using an app).

The researchers carefully extracted information from each study about who participated, what the app or program did, and what results were measured. They then summarized all the findings together to see what the overall evidence showed about whether these apps actually work.

A systematic review is valuable because it looks at all available evidence rather than just one study. This gives a more complete picture of whether mobile health apps actually help. College students are a good target for this type of research because they use phones constantly, making apps a practical tool. Poor eating habits during college can have lasting effects on health, so finding effective ways to improve diet during these years is important.

This review included 11 studies, which is a reasonable number for drawing conclusions. Most studies (10 out of 11) showed positive results, which is encouraging. However, the review notes that some improvements were small in real-world terms, even if they were statistically significant. The researchers recommend that future studies use better tools to measure what people eat and follow students for longer periods to see if benefits stick around. The fact that researchers are calling for more evidence suggests the current research, while promising, isn’t yet definitive.

What the Results Show

Out of 11 studies reviewed, 10 found that mobile health apps helped college students improve their eating habits in at least one way. This is a strong positive signal that these apps can work. The most consistent finding was with fruit and vegetable intake: when researchers looked at the 6 studies that specifically measured whether students ate more fruits and vegetables, 5 of them found significant improvements after using the app.

However, it’s important to understand what ‘significant improvement’ means. The researchers noted that while the changes were statistically real (not due to chance), some of the actual dietary changes were relatively small. For example, a student might have increased their vegetable servings from 1 per day to 1.5 per day, which is good but not a dramatic shift.

The variety of apps tested was broad, including apps that tracked food intake, provided nutrition education, sent reminders, or combined multiple features. This suggests that different approaches can work, though the review didn’t identify which specific features are most effective.

Beyond fruit and vegetable intake, the studies measured other dietary outcomes like overall calorie consumption, water intake, and general diet quality. While the review doesn’t provide detailed breakdowns of all these measures, the fact that 10 out of 11 studies showed at least one positive result suggests that apps can influence eating behaviors in multiple ways. The studies also varied in how long they followed students, from short-term (weeks) to longer-term (several months), though most didn’t track students for a full year or more.

This review adds to growing evidence that mobile health tools can influence health behaviors. Previous research has shown promise for health apps in general populations, but this review specifically focuses on college students, who have unique challenges (busy schedules, limited budgets, living situations that may not support healthy eating). The findings align with the general trend that when health interventions are delivered through phones, they tend to reach people more effectively because phones are always with them.

The review identifies several important limitations. First, while 10 studies showed positive results, the improvements were sometimes small in practical terms. Second, most studies didn’t follow students long enough to know if the benefits last after they stop using the app. Third, the review doesn’t tell us which specific app features work best or which types of students benefit most. Fourth, the studies used different methods to measure eating habits, making it hard to compare results directly. Finally, the review notes that future research needs to use validated, standardized tools for measuring diet to make results more reliable and comparable.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a college student interested in improving your diet, trying a nutrition app is worth considering. The evidence suggests it will likely help you eat more fruits and vegetables and make better food choices overall (moderate confidence level). However, don’t expect dramatic overnight changes—improvements tend to be gradual. Choose an app that fits your lifestyle and that you’ll actually use regularly. Combine app use with other strategies like meal planning or talking to friends about healthy eating for better results. The evidence is less clear about long-term benefits, so be prepared to use the app consistently to maintain improvements.

College and university students should care most about this research, especially those struggling with eating habits or wanting to improve their health. Students living in dorms or with limited cooking facilities might find apps particularly helpful for making better food choices from available options. Parents of college students might also find this useful information. Healthcare providers working with college students could recommend apps as part of a broader health improvement plan. However, students with eating disorders should work with healthcare providers rather than relying solely on apps.

Based on the studies reviewed, you might notice improvements in your eating habits within a few weeks to a couple of months of consistent app use. However, the research doesn’t clearly show how long benefits last after you stop using the app. To maintain improvements, plan to use the app regularly throughout your college years rather than as a short-term fix.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily servings of fruits and vegetables consumed. Set a goal (for example, 5 servings per day) and log actual intake each day. This specific metric showed the most consistent improvement in the research studies reviewed.
  • Use the app’s reminder feature to prompt you to eat fruits or vegetables at specific times (like with lunch or as a snack). Many apps allow you to set notifications, which can help build the habit of choosing healthier foods when you’re making food decisions.
  • Check your app’s weekly summary every Sunday to see your average daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Track this over months rather than days—you’re looking for gradual improvement in your overall pattern, not perfection every single day. If you notice you’re using the app less frequently, set a reminder to re-engage with it.

This review summarizes research on mobile health apps for improving college student eating habits. While the evidence is promising, these apps are not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. If you have specific health concerns, an eating disorder, or dietary restrictions due to medical conditions, please consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian. The improvements found in research studies were often modest, and long-term effectiveness beyond the study period is not yet well established. Individual results may vary based on personal circumstances, motivation, and app choice.