Fix or Fixated? The Pros and Cons of Health Tracking

From wearable tech on our wrists to the health apps on our smartphones, tracking our bodies has become a part of everyday life. Global demand for these tools is booming, with the wearable devices market projected to surpass USD 180 billion by 2030.¹Wearable Technology Market Summary. Grand View Research. 2024. People are now monitoring everything from their steps to their sleep cycles. But with this growth comes an important question: are we using this tech to improve our health or are we becoming too fixated on the numbers?

Health insurance comparison service iSelect reveals fresh insights via a survey of 1,500 smartphone users across the UK and Australia to shed light on the pros and cons of health tracking, revealing clear generational and gender divides, as well as differences between the two nations.

UK vs Australia: Who’s Tracking What?

Australians and Britons may live half a world apart, but when it comes to health app usage, their habits aren’t so different. Around three in five people in both countries use apps and wearables to monitor their fitness — from steps and heart rate to workouts. Sleep comes next, with about four in ten tracking their rest, followed by diet and weight management at a third of respondents.

But dig a little deeper, and the differences start to show. In the UK, millennials are the real power users: half of 25–34 year-olds track their sleep, 44% monitor diet and weight, and more than one in three (38%) use smart tech to check in on mental health – far higher than any other age group. In Australia, it’s not just the younger generations leaning in. Mid-lifers aged 35–44 are leading the charge in fitness tracking, with almost seven in ten (69%) monitoring their physical activity.

Gender also plays a role, but not always in expected ways. Women are slightly more likely to track fitness, while men pull ahead in sleep tracking. When it comes to diet and weight, the picture flips depending on where you look: in Australia, women are more engaged (33% vs 25% of men), while in the UK, men take the lead (30% vs 29% of women). And when it comes to menstrual and sexual health, younger women are pushing adoption forward, with 32% of Aussie Gen Z and 25% of UK millennials using apps to better understand their cycle. This points to a wider wellbeing shift, as more women turn to tech to learn about their bodies, optimise habits, and normalise conversations around reproductive health.

The Benefits: Motivation, Accountability & Awareness

Health tracking isn’t just about numbers; it’s giving people a real push towards healthier lifestyles. Motivation came through as a big theme, though it plays out differently across countries. Almost half of UK women (45%) say apps and wearables encourage them to make healthier choices, compared with 39% of men. In Australia, it’s the opposite story: men (44%) report greater motivation than women (36%).

Feeling in control is another big driver. Around two in five men in both countries say tracking helps them feel more in charge of their wellbeing. Fewer women agree, particularly in Australia, where only 30% say it gives them that same sense of control.

Generational trends are just as telling. In the UK, half of 25–34 year-olds say health apps help them live healthier day to day, more than any other age group. Their Australians peers echo this sentiment, with those in the same age group the most likely to feel healthier overall from tracking, even if they sometimes find it stressful (20%).

And these benefits are translating into real action. More than one in five Brits (22%) and over a quarter of Australians (26%) say they’ve actively changed their habits based on feedback from their apps and devices.

The Downsides: Data Anxiety & Health Obsession

Of course, tracking isn’t all upsides. The constant stream of numbers and alerts can sometimes create pressure rather than motivation.

Fitness tracker anxiety is becoming more prominent, particularly in Australia, where 15% of people said they feel anxious when their health scores are low and 13% admitted tracking makes them feel pressured to be “perfect” every day. Younger Aussies are the most vulnerable: a quarter of 18–24 year-olds feel anxious when their scores dip, and nearly one in five say they feel compelled to maintain flawless results.

The UK tells a similar story, though at slightly lower levels. Around 14% of people feel anxious when their scores are low, with those aged 25–34 and 35–44 the most affected (17% and 16%). Men were also slightly more likely than women to report this anxiety (15 percent vs 13 percent), while in Australia the pattern flips, with women more likely to feel the strain (19 percent vs 12 percent).

The takeaway is clear. While apps can inspire healthy habits, they can just as easily fuel stress, guilt, and perfectionism, especially for younger users who feel the weight of every score.

Are Health Apps Dictating Our Schedule?

Health apps are not just influencing what people eat or how they exercise. They’re reshaping daily routines, and in some cases, even social lives. Australians and Brits show strikingly similar habits, with around half of respondents in both countries admitting they’ve cancelled plans or changed their routine because of an alert.

Younger generations are the most likely to let devices influence their choices, while older groups seem less swayed. A third of UK 25–34 year-olds say they regularly change their plans when prompted by their device, while in Australia, the habit is strongest among 18–24s (29%) and 25–34s (28%).

Gender tells its own story. Over a quarter of men in both countries say they frequently cancel plans due to alerts, compared with fewer than one in five women. But women are also more likely to ignore their devices altogether, with close to half saying they have never let an app dictate their day.

While these patterns show strong dedication to health goals, they also raise an important question: at what point does taking wellbeing seriously tip into letting a device control how you live?

Finding Balance: Expert Advice for Healthy Tracking

Striking the right balance could be the difference between healthy habits and health obsession. Health apps and wearables can be a powerful tool for motivation and awareness, but experts stress the importance of balance. They’re a guide, not a substitute for medical advice of professional care. Here are some simple tips to keep tracking healthy and positive:

• Set realistic, flexible goals – Use apps as support, not strict instructions. Instead of chasing “perfect” numbers, aim for goals that fit your lifestyle and feel achievable.
• Focus on trends, not perfection – A single low score or missed target isn’t a failure. What matters is your progress over weeks and months, not every daily reading.
• Use tracking as a guide, not a rulebook – Devices can nudge you toward healthier choices, but they shouldn’t override how you feel or force you to cancel plans unnecessarily.
• Listen to your body – Technology can offer insights, but it doesn’t replace self-awareness. If you feel tired, stressed, or unwell, take a break regardless of what your app says.
• Remember the bigger picture – Health tracking is just one piece of the puzzle. Nutrition, mental well-being, regular check-ups, and support from health professionals all play a role.