Recent data suggests that the market for global fitness apps will grow by approximately 48+% between 2020 and 2024. This year, the figure stands at 825.7 million while in the next four years, growth is expected to surpass 25%.
The Apps segment includes fitness and nutrition apps e.g. calorie counters, nutrition diaries and apps for detecting/tracking/analysing and sharing vitality and fitness achievements.
Developers in the fitness apps sector have come up with a different application to serve different purposes under workout routines, and exercises. The exercise and weight loss apps for example simplify the process of tracking daily calorie intake to a macronutrient level, such as fats and carbohydrates, and provide a customised lifestyle plan based on user-oriented data. The apps target different demographics such as pregnant women, different age groups, and gender.
In general, fitness apps help users monitor their health and fitness.
Some apps analyse calories burned while others review calorie intake and offer guidance on nutrition for staying healthy and fit.
Historically, the use of fitness apps correlates with seasonal workout habits. For example, the holiday season marks the lowest activity. However, in 2020 usage has spiked in the advent of the Coronavirus pandemic when people have been compelled to stay at home.
Gyms have also been closed, with different authorities curbing the movement of people through lockdowns. So apps are becoming a useful tool for working out at home.
The Emergence of Apps Linked To Wearables
Wearables include smartwatches, smart bands, and smart rings that have the ability to integrate with fitness apps and provide data on aspects such as heart rate.
Advancement in the sector has seen the wearable add unique features such as calling and messaging. With the demand in wearables rising, different companies are adding complex features such as music players and inbuilt GPS.
The fitness app market is also experiencing mega partnerships between big players prompting the introduction of high-quality products. For example, Google has partnered with Apple and launched the popular Google Fit app for the iOS platform. This platform offers fitness activity goals based on recommendations from the WHO and the American Heart Association.
Drivers For Fitness Apps Growth
Factors such as an increasingly obese population, changing lifestyle and rising health concerns are also playing a role in driving growth in the sector. Other factors include the increasing occurrence of diseases associated with obesity, increasing disposable income, and an increasing awareness regarding health.
Additionally, the rising penetration of smartphones and the availability of high-speed internet services are further fuelling the growth of fitness apps. Interestingly, developing countries will also spur growth, especially under the disease management apps category due to the lack of convenient hospitals and clinics.
However it is not all rosy. Producers of fitness apps are still working on fixing a few issues including, with users complaining about the accuracy of some aspects of the apps such as calorie count. Other fitness and health apps also lack automation features making it cumbersome for users to key in all the necessary information.
In the future, more fitness apps will emerge and they will be largely advanced after rectifying existing shortcomings. While fitness presents an opportunity for the future of health tech, there is also a need for offering more personalised options.
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