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International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Mobile Fitness Apps in Promoting Habit Formation: A Systematic Literature Review

Wang Dagang, Diyana Zulaika Abdul Ghani

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v15-i12/27327

Open access

Background: Mobile fitness applications are increasingly used to promote health behaviors; however, their role in supporting long-term habit formation remains underexplored. Objective: This systematic literature review aims to examine how mobile fitness apps contribute to the development and maintenance of health-related habits, particularly in promoting physical activity and diet management, and to identify the motivational mechanisms and design strategies underlying sustainable behavior change. Methods: A systematic search and analysis of relevant studies were conducted, focusing on behavior change techniques (BCTs). A conceptual framework was developed to synthesize the findings. Results: The review identified a growing trend toward personalized and adaptive design strategies in mobile fitness apps. However, implicit, context-aware interaction strategies were found to be underutilized. While mobile fitness apps demonstrated potential in supporting habit formation, ethical concerns related to passive data collection emerged as a challenge.

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Dagang, W., & Ghani, D. Z. A. (2025). Mobile Fitness Apps in Promoting Habit Formation: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(12), 2103-2115.