Are fitness apps effective?

There is no secret revolving around the fact our population are gaining more weight and exercising less. This is part technologies fault with the development of Netflix sees people sitting at home on their device watching Netflix. iPad and apps are to blame; also apps are fun and entertaining, and people are becoming addicted to apps and social media. We now have technology bringing out fitness apps. We have seen the tech market going crazy lately with the latest products loaded with techs like the smartwatches that have gym and fitness apps. It is controversial as to whether they work, or not so should you delete all your apps and go back to counting calories with papers and pens? Or should we be embracing the tech fitness apps?

There are several different opinions surrounding fitness apps. Many people will state they are great motivators, and they couldn’t be without one, and some people say they are a waste of time and money. The evidence doesn’t lean either way but merely sits in between. Market research by Accenture states that 1.7 billion people will have a health app downloaded on their phone. There are so many different ones out there claiming to motivate you and to help get you into shape. Do these work?

The research undertaken is inconclusive. It does show however that many do offer motivation to people and help them to overcome the different barriers that may stand in the way like lack of interest and knowledge, access to facilities and information. It is suggested that you should consider users needs and wants when designing a health app. With research supporting both for and against it is up to you to take control when it comes to your exercise routine and work out what is right for you. If you think the app helps you exercise and maintain a routine, then use it. If you don’t find It offers much in the way of motivation then delete the app.

Remember somethings work for some but not for others. Sometimes things are mind over matter because they are so glamorised, and everyone gets in on the craze; sometimes you can make yourself believe they work when they don’t. But does this matter when you are getting results? If it isn’t helping at all, but you think it is then in a way you are getting something out of the app that is positive. Exercising is a personal thing, and there isn’t a right or wrong way to do it. There is hope that the fitness apps will be investigated more using a more science and research background to see whether they help or is it mind over matter?

Current fitness trends are changing, and there is a tremendous amount of fitness apps available on the store and finding one that suits you could take, but if it works for you, then there is no harm done. Consider what types of apps will be out within just a few years as technology is growing significantly.