From Strava workout updates to MyFitnessPal calorie logs, it seems like there’s a fitness app for everything these days, and most of us are taking full advantage. These apps can help us track progress, stay accountable, and set measurable goals. But according to a new study, there may be an unintended downside to fitness apps—and the constant tracking might be doing us more harm than good.
The study, published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, analyzed nearly 59,000 posts on X that mentioned the five most profitable commercial fitness apps: MyFitnessPal, Calorie Counter, Strava: Run, Ride, Swim, WW (formerly Weight Watchers), Workouts by Muscle Booster, and Fitness Coach & Diet: FitCoach. Using machine-assisted topic analysis, researchers filtered for posts with negative sentiment, narrowing the sample to about 13,800 tweets.
Researchers uncovered several recurring patterns in how people interact with these digital fitness tools. Six main issues stood out, largely tied to the psychological and behavioral pitfalls of app-based tracking. For example, many users reported frustration over inaccurate data, the pressure to meet algorithm-set goals, and the emotional strain of constantly measuring their every move.
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“These apps rely on algorithms that do not reflect the flexibility and messiness of real life, or account for individual circumstances and differences,” researchers wrote.
That rigidity, it appears, can easily backfire. Many users described feelings of guilt, shame, and burnout when they failed to hit targets, leading to decreased motivation and, in some cases, complete disengagement from healthy habits. Previous studies have shown that one of the biggest barriers to exercise adherence is psychological factors like self-belief, enjoyment, and intention. If these apps affect those, they may be doing the opposite of what they promise.
“We know from previous research that feeling ashamed and miserable about yourself is not going to support healthy, long-term behavior change—what we need to know now is how pervasive these effects on morale and emotional well-being are, and whether there is anything that can be done to adapt fitness apps so that they better meet people’s needs,” Lucy Porter, PhD, and study co-author told Medical Xpress.
Ultimately, the researchers concluded that the negative behavioral and psychological consequences reported by users may undermine the very goal of these apps: to promote better health and lasting lifestyle change. Their findings call for a more user-centered approach to fitness technology.
