Overboard … the app that fat shames consumers into weight-loss has become increasingly popular for its cutting remarks. Picture: YouTube Source: Supplied
A MOBILE phone app that shames people into losing weight by calling them “flabby meatbags” and tweeting horrible insults to their Twitter followers if they overeat has become the latest craze in calorie-tracking apps.
These co-called “sadistic apps” have a similar approach to some weight-loss reality TV shows, which use punishment — physical or mental — to motivate people into losing as much weight as possible.
Designed by Pennsylvanian developer Brian Mueller and marketed as a “hilarious talking weight that will inspire, bribe, ridicule, threaten and insult you into losing weight”, the app CARROT Fit or its latest reincarnation, CARROT Hunger, sell for $2.99 and promise to “make getting in shape suck so much less”.
CARROT Hunger Launch Trailer
Despite the assurance for weight loss to “suck less”, the meting out of “brutal punishments” is one of the app’s main selling points, with Mueller promising that users will “quake in fear of punishment” if they eat too much.
“Overeat, and CARROT will serve up brutal punishments like bribe requests, hideous full screen ads, and tweets that will shame you in front of all your social media pals”.
Shame … A screenshot of the CARROT Hunger mobile app that shames people into losing weight. Picture: YouTube Source: Supplied
Technically speaking, the app is useful: it translates what has been eaten into calories, and then tells users how long — or how much — they would have to walk to burn off that food.
It also enables users to scan barcodes to determine the food’s nutritional value, and to watch their avatar grow — and recede — as food is consumed and burnt.
It also includes an iBeacon — an Apple brand transmitter that helps smart phones determine their approximate location or context — which can be placed on the fridge and sound an alarm when it detects the user eating more than their goal allows.
And it yells: “get your flabby body moving, meatbag!”
Insulting … the CARROT Hunger app is not for the faint-hearted. Picture: YouTube Source: Supplied
But Sydney University’s exercise expert, Dr Jonthon Freeston, says that being yelled at to exercise is not an effective motivator.
“To be honest, no one likes getting yelled at,” he tells News Corp Australia.
“Although this may work for a small subsection of the population, there are real problems associated with the assumption that punishing people works”.
Inefficient … Shaming people into losing weight is not taking into account the myriad factors associated with physical activity, exercise expert Dr Freeston says. Picture: Supplied Source: News Limited
Physical activity is a very complex behaviour made up of three factors: the individual, social and the environmental, Dr Freeston says.
“Environmental factors can include issues such as: do we have somewhere we can do exercise that is affordable, safe and accessible.
“The social is also really important, in that it considers whether … we have people who encourage us, who will exercise with us, who will give us practical support.”
But the most important issue surrounding the sadistic app relates to individual factors — such as self-belief and self-efficacy — which play a huge role in allowing “us to do what we’re actually planning on doing”.
“Most of us have enough trouble with self-esteem and self-confidence we don’t actually need another negative voice in our heads,” he says.
Support … Family and friends play a large role in motivating people to get fit and healthy. Picture: Supplied Source: ThinkStock
Users of the app say it is helpful with calorie counting, even if it is not for the faint-hearted.
One user writes: “This app is wonderful! I’ve only just started using it, but I find myself motivated simply to hear what cynic hilarity will be coming up next!”
Another happy customer says the app “does a great job of finding the food I’m looking for and has been a great motivator in keeping track of calories”.
But he cautions the app is not for the easily hurt.
“If you’re sensitive and don’t like an app poking fun at you, I probably wouldn’t buy this. The Carrot insults are means to be funny and motivating, but I guess not everyone sees it that way.
“Personally, I think it’s great.”
Originally published as The app that fat shames dieters