Fitness apps are more useful for people who want to become fit ratherthen those who are already fit, experts say

Determining the effectiveness of a fitness app starts with studying the perceived body image of the user. 

People with a negative body image and are looking to make a change, are the most likely to use fitness apps according to a study published in the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. Researchers believe fitness junkies are so ingrained in their current work out habits they don't have the time or the need to add a new component to their routines. Former University of Delaware softball player Tori Conrad talks about her experience with work out routines and fitness apps.      



This study argues that since college students are very technologically literate they are the most likely demographic to try fitness apps in general. The overwhelming majority of the respondents to the Cyberpsychology survey were female. In general females are more sensitive about their bodies. The desire to change/improve one's body makes female college students the most likely audience to adopt a new tool such as a fitness app. 

In a survey of 77 University of Maryland students 73% said they work out regularly. Of that 73% only 4% said they use fitness apps. The Cyberpsychology study only surveyed interested students. This skews the data in favor of people who use fitness apps. The graph shows the results of the University of Maryland survey.


Health related apps make up 19% of smartphone use; 31% of these are used for calorie counting and 38% are used to track exercise. In a secondary follow up study, published in the American Journal of Health Education, participants interviewed confirmed that physical activity and healthy eating/weight loss were the two main uses of fitness apps. The secondary study proved the hypothesis from the first study; using a fitness app did in fact help the person to achieve their goal.

Most of the participants in the American Journal of Health Education survey felt health apps had a positive impact on their lives. The respondents believed the visual and auditory cues provided by their favored apps helped to raise awareness about problematic behaviors. The apps then prepared a plan to shift the negative behaviors to more positive ones. The users stated they liked the trainer like qualities the alerts and reminders provide. "Its like your own little motivator in a way (Participant 15)."

Erin Moser and her mother both bought Fitbits this summer in order to help them get back in shape. Fitbit can keep track of steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns. Moser and her mom use the ConnectWithFriends functions in order to challenge one another to fitness matches. The app allows each person in the challenge to see the progress of the other, motivating both parties to work harder. 

MyFitnessPal is one of the three most popular fitness apps according to the American Journal

study, and my survey.

It is popular for weigh loss. The user creates a profile detailing age, weight, height and fitness habits. The app generates a caloric plan based on the original data. Then user scans food and beverages consumed each day. He or she also records exercise in the app. The calories and nutrients in taken as well as calories burned calculated by the app. It then shows the user how many calories he or she has left for the day.


Dietitian Jane Jakubczak warns users to take the calorie recommendations as more a of a guideline then as rule. "The calorie guidelines are way too low. Students become very restrictive" Jakubczak said. She recommends students record the types of foods they are eating rather then the specific calories.

Sophomore Michelle Smith agrees with Jakubczak. Smith shares a personal story about how MyFitnessPal caused her to have an unhealthy relationship with food. After realizing how the constant self scrutiny was negatively affecting her body image Smith stopped using the app and admitted she is much happier now. 

Both studies admitted to needing further research over a wide section of audiences to determine if the apps were as effective in changing fitness behaviors as the participants believed. While the generations of digital natives may think that fitness apps have "been around forever," they are a relatively new technology. It is difficult for researchers to measure effectiveness of the apps since it is self report data. However, with the increase in popularity, studies imperially testing the fitness advice given are sure to follow.