Healthy Living

The Pros and Cons of Health Apps

The Pros and Cons of Using Health Apps

There are literally hundreds of new health apps introduced every year. These health apps do everything from tracking your steps to analyzing your sleeping patterns to help you improve your sleep. While these apps can be a positive beneficial step to improving your health and wellbeing, there are also a few downsides to using health apps.

mobile apps

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of these health apps.

Pro – Knowledge Is Power

Knowledge is power. During your average day you perform many actions that you’re relatively unaware of. Everything you eat and every step you take is part of your overall health. When you use fitness and health apps to track that information, you suddenly have insight into your own behavior and habits. You can use that information to make positive changes in your lifestyle.

For example, by entering your food into an application, you may realize the breakfast that you’re eating, that you thought was healthy, actually contains your full sugar allowance for the day. That information can help you quickly make a change to a different breakfast.

Con – Too Much Knowledge Can Muddy the Waters

A downside to using apps to track your health is that too much information can actually muddy the waters. It can become overwhelming when you know every step you take, every calorie you consume, every calorie you burn and what goes into every morsel you eat. All of that information can put you on information overload, and it can distract you from your actual health goals. That makes it difficult to sort out what’s important and to create a realistic plan to achieve your health goals.

Pro – Important Information at Your Fingertips

A benefit of using health apps is that you have important information at your fingertips. Let’s say that you are at a restaurant and you’re trying to decide what to order. There are applications that can tell you the ingredients of any particular menu item including the calories, fat and sugar. You can quickly compare the nutrition information to your daily goals and make a smart decision that supports you.

There are also mobile apps that you can search to find different exercise routes in your area. For example, if you decide that you want to run a 5K, you can quickly look on your mobile app, find five different 5K routes to run, and choose the one that fits your needs. Apps can provide a convenient way to access vital information.

Con – The Information Isn’t Always Completely Accurate

It’s also important to realize that not every single mobile app that’s available is a quality app. Sometimes the information you receive is not accurate. We can go back to the example of the restaurant menu ingredients. The information on your mobile app may not be up to date. The actual meal that you order may have a different nutritional profile than what you believe.

Health and fitness applications can be a powerful addition to your daily life. They can support you in succeeding and can make it easier to choose the best options for your needs and goals. When you choose good health apps to help you track your health, you can overcome the potential downsides. Do your research and make sure that the apps you’re using support you in achieving your health and fitness goals.

Helping You Live Healthier in a Major Way!

Cheryl A Major, CNWC

Cheryl A Major, Certified Nutrition & Wellness Consultant

 

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