{"id":7069871,"date":"2026-09-29T18:16:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T18:16:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/are-health-tracking-apps-helping-or-hindering-your-mental-health\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T18:16:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T18:16:05","slug":"are-health-tracking-apps-helping-or-hindering-your-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7069871","title":{"rendered":"Are Health-Tracking Apps Helping or Hindering Your mental health?"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\"blue
Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Smartphone apps often have the answer to many of our pressing, daily questions. What is the weather forecast for the week? What\u2019s the fastest way to get to your desired destination?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Among the\u00a0almost 3 billion apps<\/a>\u00a0available for download on Google Play Store (and just under 2 billion on the Apple App Store), there are plenty of health-related options.<\/p>\n

A good percentage of them are extremely useful, as they allow you to order your\u00a0repeat prescriptions<\/a>\u00a0or plan your gym workouts and routines from the comfort of your home.<\/p>\n

However, there are also concerns that certain apps, specifically fitness and calorie-tracking portals, could be detrimental to people\u2019s mental health. In what way?<\/p>\n

Here, we explore how to engage with health-tracking apps in a positive, constructive\u00a0manner<\/a>, while also highlighting how they might affect your mental health if you overuse them.<\/p>\n

Are health-tracking apps any good?<\/h2>\n

There are many reasons someone would want to use a health-monitoring tool<\/a>. This could be anything from measuring your heart rate and counting how many steps you complete each day to keeping your food intake under control.<\/p>\n

In 2022,\u00a044% of the UK population<\/a>\u00a0used \u2013 at least once \u2013 a health-tracking app, meaning that it is a widespread practice among smartphone users.<\/p>\n

This can be viewed as an encouraging statistic, as it suggests that Brits are actively trying to find ways to stay fit and healthy.<\/p>\n

In fact, these applications can promote healthy behaviour and manage your fitness levels on the go, becoming a handy option when it comes to identifying a problem.<\/p>\n

For example, if you rarely feel refreshed as you leave your bed in the morning, you could use a sleep-monitoring tool to discover whether you wake up, snore, or toss and turn during the night.<\/p>\n

Likewise, if you often feel irritable and under the weather, these tools can be useful to pinpoint potential triggers and provide some simple, in-the-moment meditation tips.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, health apps can help with the early detection of possible medical conditions. By keeping a close eye on some of your vital signs, from blood pressure to heart rate, these applications can spot warning signs of health problems.<\/p>\n

This means that you can act in a timely fashion and seek medical attention to arrange a check-up for your own peace of mind.<\/p>\n

With an all-round picture of your health and habits at hand, your doctor can make more informed decisions on any plans or treatment you may need.<\/p>\n

Another positive aspect of health apps is that they allow you to improve your lifestyle routines.<\/p>\n

People who use health-monitoring tools tend to be less sedentary than others and, on average,\u00a0walk almost a mile more<\/a>\u00a0than those who don\u2019t have a tracking application.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The good thing about these trackers is that they also include features that give you the chance to share your progress and activity with family, friends, and fellow app users.<\/p>\n

This social aspect can encourage you to stick to your goals, carry on with your healthy diet or daily jogs, and help receive moral support from other people to keep ploughing through.<\/p>\n

How health-tracking apps could impact your mental health<\/h2>\n

On the whole, health apps can have a wide range of benefits.\u00a0But it has also been found that not all health-tracking apps are as precise and reliable as they seem.<\/a><\/p>\n

According to the NHS-backed study, only\u00a0around 20% of all health and medical apps<\/a>\u00a0meet clinical standards, are safe from hackers, and are able to protect people\u2019s records.<\/p>\n

This could have a negative impact on people\u2019s physical wellbeing, especially if they follow potentially inaccurate advice for an extended period of time.<\/p>\n

Dr Harriet Leyland, Clinical Advisor from myGP, explains: \u201cEnsuring patient safety should be the key priority to any healthcare app. It\u2019s crucial for apps to carefully consider the implications of any features they develop and the benefits they are trying to deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n

As always, moderation is key. If you rely on health-tracking apps too much, they could take their toll on your mental health. For example, they can:<\/p>\n