By Lifestyle Staff
ADELAIDE, Australia — A new study reports that health app users get more exercise, sleep better and eat healthier. A University of South Australia research team, led by Dr. Ben Singh, compiled data from 206,873 people across 47 studies. Their meta-meta-analysis found that digital health tools – like smartphone mobile apps, websites, and text messages – can significantly improve health and well-being.
Specifically, the researchers reported that electronic and mobile health interventions can help people achieve:
- 1,329 more steps/day
- 55 minutes more moderate-to-vigorous exercise/week
- 45 minutes more overall physical activity/week
- 7 hours less sedentary behavior/week
- 103 fewer calories consumed/day
- 20% more fruits and vegetables consumed/day
- 5 grams less saturated fat consumed/day
- 9 kilograms of weight loss over 12 weeks
- Improved sleep quality
- Less severe insomnia.
“Our study found that digital and mobile health interventions can have a positive effect on people’s health and wellbeing, not only helping them to increase their physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior, but also improving their diet and quality of sleep,” Dr. Singh said.
Health app tips
Here are three tips to get the most out of a smartphone health app to help improve sleep, diet, and physical activity:
1. Set clear, achievable goals: Start by setting specific, measurable, and realistic goals within the app for sleep, nutrition, and exercise. For example, aim for 7-8 hours of sleep, a balanced intake of fruits and vegetables, and at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. Track your progress regularly to stay motivated and make adjustments as needed.
2. Utilize reminders and notifications: Most health apps allow you to set reminders for bedtime, meal times, and workout sessions. Take advantage of these features to maintain consistency in your routines. Consistent reminders help reinforce healthy habits, ensuring you stick to your plan even on busy days.
3. Analyze and adjust based on data: Regularly review the data and insights provided by the app, such as sleep patterns, calorie intake, and activity levels. Use this information to identify areas for improvement. For instance, if the app shows that you’re not meeting your sleep goal, consider adjusting your bedtime routine or limiting screen time before bed.
Do you use a health app? Let us know which one and how it helps improve your health and wellness by emailing editor@firerescue1.com.
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