Are Diet and Fitness Apps Harming Your Mental Health?

Written by Stella Hatch. 

Did you know that 68.7 million smartphone users in the United States use diet or fitness apps? Or that MyFitnessPal alone has over 200 million users worldwide? Health and fitness apps are designed to help users track their food intake and physical activity, promising a “healthier” lifestyle. Yet despite their popularity and purportedly good intentions, these apps may come with unintended mental health consequences. This includes contributing to disordered eating, specifically in young adults and women.  

The Apps’ Appeal

What exactly makes these apps so appealing? They are convenient, user-friendly, and are designed to fit easily into everyday life. Their functionality – for example, built-in notifications and reminders – incorporates some of the elements known to help with behavior change, such as accountability, structure, and encouragement through positive reinforcement. If used appropriately, goal-setting and progress chart features can encourage SMART goals and gradual change. This, in turn, may help people to stay motivated and engaged. And, there is some evidence that these apps effectively support people without eating disorders who wish to lose weight.

Data on Potential Harms

Despite all the potential positives, many people (our team included) have voiced concern about the possible risks of these apps on mental health since their inception. We’ve worried that they encourage people to be overly focused — or even obsessional — about physical activity, calories, weight, and appearance. Fortunately, after a decade-plus of an expanding app marketplace, there is now data to help us distinguish between fear and fact. 

In March of 2025, researchers at Flinders University in Southern Australia published a systematic review examining the impact of diet and fitness monitoring apps on mental health. They identified two very concerning patterns:

1. Young adults using diet or fitness apps are more likely to engage in disordered eating, have concerns around their body image, and participate in more compulsive exercise than their peers who are not on the apps. 
2. Body image concerns and compensatory behaviors (inappropriate and ineffective behaviors to attempt to control weight, such as self-induced vomiting, or the use of diuretics or laxatives) predicted current and future diet/fitness app usage. 

Together, these findings suggest that individuals who are already struggling with body image or have an unhealthy relationship with food may be more likely to use these apps, which may be reinforcing and maintaining unhealthy – and in some cases, dangerous – habits. Other research suggests that many users agree that an app contributes to their eating disorder in some way. People using the apps to address weight and body shape concerns report more disordered eating patterns than those who using them for wellbeing or sports/fitness goals. While no causal link has been found between these apps and eating disorders, they certainly appear to amplify risk factors. This is especially true for those who are already vulnerable. 

How can I tell if I’m in harm’s way?

How might you know that an app is doing you more harm than good? First, consider whether a trusted friend or family member would agree that your reasons for using this app are sound. Or that the goals you’ve set are reasonable and in line with actual health. Second, you can ask yourself:

• Is this app leading me to obsess more about calories or physical activity?
• Am I starting to feel bad – or feeling worse than usual – about my food choices and exercise habits?  
• Is the plan I’m trying to stick to causing me to skip out on other important experiences? Am I prioritizing the goals I set within the app over everything else?
• Do I become anxious when I’m unable to record or track my behaviors? Do I feel very guilty or overly self-critical if I don’t meet a particular goal? 

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it’s time to take an app holiday and talk to someone – perhaps a family member, therapist, or healthcare provider – about your experience.

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