Why fitness apps could be doing more harm than good

"Fitness apps that track calories, step counts and give unachievable goals could be doing more harm than good, researchers warn. Health apps can encourage people to boost their fitness, such as running a certain distance, getting enough sleep, or eating the right foods. But many apps do not use evidence or theory-based approaches to support these healthy changes and can give people goals that are difficult to achieve"

"Corresponding author Paulina Bondaronek of UCL said: Fitness apps remain some of the most profitable and widely downloaded health tools globally. While they can benefit health, there's been far less attention to their potential downsides. When health is reduced to calorie counts and step goals, it can leave people feeling demotivated, ashamed, and disconnected from what truly drives lasting wellbeing."

The Independent sends reporters to cover developing stories across reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, investigating items like Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC and producing documentaries such as 'The A Word' about American women fighting for reproductive rights. The Independent remains accessible without paywalls and solicits donations to fund on-the-ground journalism and to keep reporting available for all. Researchers at University College London warn that fitness apps prioritizing calorie counts, step goals, and gamified targets often lack evidence-based behavior-change theory and can set unachievable goals that leave users demotivated, ashamed, and disconnected from lasting wellbeing.

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