always wrong! Although that’s an extreme example, it’s always worth bearing in mind that no algorithm can account for all of our individualities, so any secondary data should always be taken with a pinch of salt. Dependency and Anxiety: Constant monitoring can lead to dependency on wearable devices, fostering anxiety when people are unable to access or use them. This dependency can, surprisingly often, result in an unhealthy obsession with metrics and potential stress related to meeting daily health goals. One particular aspect this seems to apply to is the number of calories burned per day. Privacy Concerns The collection and storage of personal health data raise significant privacy concerns. There's a risk of unauthorised access or data breaches, but there are also an increasing number of health insurance companies that are using the data to influence policy coverage and costs. For example, some companies will reduce insurance premiums for people who consistently do 10,000 steps per day. That’s great if your wearable is accurate but if, as in the example from my athletes, it's not interpreting data correctly, it could be a problem. Overall, health trackers and wearables can be a fantastic addition to our lives when used as an added extra to keep us motivated. The biggest drawback I see with clients is when they start relying on the data from the watch or tracker to dictate health behaviours more than how they feel. If your watch tells you that you had a great night’s sleep, but you woke up feeling crap, it’s ok to take it easy that day rather than attacking your to-do list full throttle just because your watch told you that you should be full of energy!
HOLA SOBER | MADRID
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