Most of the applications for weight and exercise will require the user to input data to start. Thus, users have to be totally honest and perhaps surrender more information than perhaps initially comfortable providing. But there needs to be a baseline of information for most health and fitness applications to have value. Thus, it is imperative that information on diet, mood, lifestyle and daily activities are accurate.

From there, the power of algorithms can transform that data into a useful analysis of patterns of behavior. The apps can then guide you toward smarter choices in daily activities, and some of them provide access to networks of professionals or people who have similar goals, the better to support the user when he or she wavers along the path.

5 Great Weight-Loss Apps

Here are a few key applications that can help improve diet and lifestyle choices. As with any tool, how you use it, when you use it and if you use it plays a big part in its effectiveness.

Being able to better understand the issues that keep you from attaining a desired weight or level of fitness is the main benefit of using these apps. But you've gotta use it for it to work.

Here are some of the more intriguing mobile phone applications that may create better living:

1)    MealSnap ($2.99) – How many calories are in that container of Kung Pao Chicken? Was this salad really the right choice? Take a picture of the dish and MealSnap will do an analysis of the nutrition benefits. Regularly using the app will presumably help users start making better food choices and learn to eat healthier. It’s also a great tool for keeping track of calorie consumption.