Trend and features of top 100 grossing health and fitness iPhone apps (1028.5)

Abstract

There is a fast‐growing trend in using smartphone apps and wearable devices to track health and fitness. Consumer health apps quadrupled from 3,000 in 2010 to 13,600 in 2012. As of Oct 2013, about half of the top 100 grossing health and fitness apps in the Apple Store were designed to track physical activities (PA), especially cardio fitness. Forty percent of them specifically track running, and 12% cycling. The remaining 48% health and fitness apps track other activities, such as strength training, including yoga. Aside from using wireless wearable device, many of these apps automatically tracks PA using the built‐in Global Positioning System (GPS), accelerometers, and environment sensor in the smartphone. Otherwise users self‐report their PA using these apps to track their progress. Popular features of these PA apps include real‐time data storage, goal setting, feedback, social networking, and synchronization with wearable devices. There was no evidence that these top 100 grossing apps have been validated for scientific research use. To align technology advancement with vigorous research, academic researchers should highly consider partnering more closely with the industry to conduct large‐scale, multilevel approach, longer‐term interventions.Grant Funding Source: PacificSource Healthcare