Two in five US adults now use health apps

Anne Freer | February 27, 2023

App Business

The health industry has seen a significant change since the Covid-19 pandemic with ever more healthcare services available via mobile apps and on people’s wearable devices. Health tracking is now popular to manage existing conditions and keep fit. Business intelligence firm Morning Consult took a closer look at the health app trends of 2023.

Growing number of Americans are using health apps

Two in five US adults are now using health apps. That’s a rise of 6 percentage points since 2018. The share of Americans who said they use wearables is up to 35%, an 8-point rise over the same period.

“The last five years have been very exciting. I think the next five years is going to be potentially even more exciting and transformative as innovation continues to evolve in almost every area of health care,” said Scott Whitaker, chief executive of the medical device industry group AdvaMed.

“The combination of consumers’ fascination with the technology and users’ recognition of the added value is “driving up the usage tremendously.”

Wearables are trailing the app trend somewhat. Nearly one in four non-users said that cost of devices was the main reason for them not buying one.

At least half of US adults with health apps use them daily

Source: Morning Consult

However, 86% of wearable users believe the technology is very or somewhat effective at helping them reach their goals.

Monitoring exercise, sleep and weight are core motivations

Around a third of health app owners say they’re using the technology more than they have before. Ismene Grohmann, head of product for Abbott Laboratories’ new bio-wearables line Lingo, believes that’s a direct consequence of the heightened focus on our health during the pandemic.

Motivations differ but 75% of users said they use apps for fitness and exercise monitoring, while 48% keep track of their sleep and 46% monitor weight using apps.

Top motivations to use health apps

Source: Morning Consult

Interestingly, a separate survey found that US adults were becoming less concerned about privacy issues of health apps while Gen Z users were growing slightly more concerned.

Key takeaways

  • Use of health apps grows 6 percentage points over 2018 while 35% more people use wearables
  • 75% of adults said they use apps for fitness and exercise monitoring, while 48% keep track of their sleep and 46% monitor weight using apps
  • US adults are becoming less concerned about privacy issues of health apps

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