The Claim
Use of fitness and diet tracking technology is consistently associated with higher levels of global disordered eating, dietary restraint, excessive exercise, and disordered muscle-oriented behavior in observational studies of general population samples, particularly among young women, but experimental studies show no significant change in these behaviors following controlled exposure to such technology.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
People who use fitness and diet tracking apps and devices tend to show higher levels of disordered eating behaviors, excessive exercise, and muscle-focused disordered behaviors, but controlled experiments do not show that using these technologies causes changes in these behaviors.
See the scientific wording
Use of fitness and diet tracking technology is consistently associated with higher levels of global disordered eating, dietary restraint, excessive exercise, and disordered muscle-oriented behavior in observational studies of general population samples, particularly among young women, but experimental studies show no significant change in these behaviors following controlled exposure to such technology.
People who already have rigid eating habits, excessive exercise routines, or obsessive focus on muscle appearance are more likely to use fitness apps to monitor and control their bodies. The apps do not cause these behaviors — they are used by people who already have them.
What the research says
1 studyPeople who use fitness apps often report unhealthy eating or exercise habits, but when scientists made people start using these apps on purpose, their habits didn’t get worse — suggesting the apps aren’t causing the problems, but people who already have them are more likely to use the apps.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.