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Health Apps that track caloriesResearchers warn that counting steps and setting unattainable goals could do more harm than good.
Health apps can encourage people To boost their fitness, e.g. run a certain distanceGetting enough sleep, or eating right.
But many apps don’t use an “evidence or theory-based” approach to support these healthy changes and may give people goals that are “hard to achieve.”
This is according to researchers University College London (UCL) who found fitness apps Can make people feel discouraged from exercising.
Corresponding author Paulina Bondaronek, UCL, said: “Fitness apps are some of the most profitable and widely downloaded health tools globally. Although they can benefit health, little attention has been paid to their potential harms.
“When health is reduced to calorie counting and step goals, it can leave people feeling discouraged, embarrassed, and disconnected from what really drives lasting well-being.”
The study, published in British Journal of Health Psychology, Looked at negative behavioral and psychological consequences of commercial fitness apps as reported by users on social media.
Researchers list five most profitable fitness apps for social media platforms by March 2022
Several negative themes were raised, including the challenges of quantifying diet and physical activity, the complexity of tracking calories and exercise through overly simplistic algorithms, and emotional reactions to apps’ notifications.
Some users felt overwhelmed by the apps and noted feelings of shame, frustration, and discouragement, which led them to quit the apps and, in some cases, even lose healthy behaviors.
A post on
Another wrote: “It’s so frustrating when you ditch the gym and MyFitnessPal for a day and it doesn’t matter… back to eating Lotus Biscoff spread from the jar.”
The researchers concluded that there was a need for an app that prioritized well-being over quantitative goals.
Dr Darren Player, lecturer in musculoskeletal bioengineering at UCL and personal trainer, stressed that counting calories and steps are not suitable methods for measuring overall physical activity and health. But he doesn’t think fitness apps are inherently bad.
“The psychological aspects depend on personality,” Dr. Player explained. Independent. Some people seek accountability, motivation, and satisfaction by interacting with peers on such apps. “Other people will find this type of conversation discouraging.”
Matt Roberts, personal trainer to the rich and famous, said fitness apps can be “hugely positive” if used with “the right mindset.”
“For some people, the competitive aspect with peers may be discouraging, especially in the beginning, but that should not diminish the fact that most users get real and lasting benefits from seeing their progress and learning how their daily habits affect their health,” he said.
“The goal is to use data for self-improvement, not self-judgment.”
MyFitnessPal, Strava, Weight Watchers, Workouts by Muscle Booster and FitCoach have all been contacted for comment.