Key points from article :
A new study from University College London (UCL) and Loughborough University, published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, has revealed a downside to popular fitness and calorie-tracking apps: they can induce feelings of shame, irritation, and disappointment among users. Using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze tens of thousands of social media posts, researchers examined 58,881 posts related to the five most profitable fitness apps, identifying 13,799 posts expressing negative sentiment. Many users reported feeling guilty after logging unhealthy foods, frustrated by app notifications, or demotivated when they failed to meet algorithm-generated targets.
The study highlighted that these apps rely on rigid algorithms that do not account for the complexities of real life or individual differences. For example, some users faced unrealistic calorie goals, with one noting the absurdity of needing to consume “−700 calories a day” to reach a target weight. Such pressures often led to demotivation, with users abandoning their health goals rather than feeling encouraged.
Lead author Dr. Paulina Bondaronek emphasized that while fitness apps offer benefits, the emotional consequences of blame and shame can undermine their purpose. The research suggests that apps should shift from narrow metrics like weight loss to a more holistic approach that prioritizes overall wellbeing, intrinsic motivation, and positive reinforcement.
Co-author Dr. Lucy Porter noted that listening to users’ social media experiences revealed how these apps can leave people feeling demoralized—exactly the opposite of their intended effect. The study calls for developers to redesign fitness tools to better support emotional wellbeing and sustainable, healthy behavior.
