Study analysis · Psychology of sport and exercise · 2025
Your fitness app might be making you obsessed with your body—here's why.
Women who track what they eat or both food and exercise feel worse about their bodies and exercise more compulsively than those who only track workouts.
Overview
What the study found
The study in plain English — the bottom line, every takeaway we extracted, and what to do with them.
In simple terms
This study asked women if they used fitness apps and how they felt about their bodies, then found that people who used apps often also said they felt worse about themselves. But it didn't watch them over time, so we can't tell if the apps made them feel bad, or if they used the apps because they already felt bad.
What’s the bottom line?
Some apps make you count every bite and step — but for some young women, this can make them obsess over their shape and exercise too much.
How strong is this study?
The study asked good questions and talked to a lot of people, which is great. But since everyone just answered a survey once, and we don't know if they were honest or had other problems before, we can't be super sure the results are totally reliable.
0 / 100
- COI disclosureconflicts of interest not disclosed
- Data availabilitydata not shared
- Code availabilitycode not shared
21 / 100
- Randomizationnot randomized
- Blindingblinding unclear
- Control groupno control group
- Sample size (n=386)+17.1/20
- Follow-upno follow-up reported
100 / 100
77 / 100
- P-values+15/15
- Effect size+20/20
- Confidence intervals+15/15
- Pre-registrationnot pre-registered
Each component is scored out of 100 and then capped by the study design — a case series cannot reach the ceiling a randomised trial can, however well it is reported.
Where it sits
RCT reviewsReviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized TrialsRandomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort StudiesReviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort StudiesCohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control StudiesReviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control StudiesCase-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case SeriesCross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert OpinionExpert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Probability of being correct
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
This design cannot establish causation — the findings describe an association, not a cause. This is a cross-sectional study with no randomization, control group, or temporal data collection, so it cannot determine whether app use causes disordered eating or if individuals with existing concerns are more likely to use these apps.
No Conflicts
No conflicts of interest identified
No conflicts of interest or funding disclosures were reported in the study text.
The study lacks any declared funding sources or conflict of interest statement. While the authors are affiliated with academic institutions, no industry ties or financial relationships are disclosed. Data availability is noted as confidential, which may limit transparency but does not constitute a confirmed conflict.
Key takeaways
- 01
Women using diet or diet+fitness apps had worse body image and more compulsive exercise than those using fitness-only apps.
- 02
Yes — this isn't just a small difference; it suggests these apps may push people toward unhealthy habits, especially if they already care a lot about looking 'fit'.
Surprising findings
- Fitness-only app users had significantly better body image and lower disordered eating than non-users.Most assume any tracking is harmful—but this study found that tracking exercise alone was actually linked to better outcomes than no tracking at all.
- The link between app use and disordered eating was stronger than expected—even after controlling for baseline body image concerns.Researchers thought pre-existing body dissatisfaction would explain everything—but the app use itself added independent risk, suggesting apps actively reinforce harmful patterns.
Practical takeaways
If you use a diet or fitness app, ask yourself: 'Am I tracking to feel better—or to punish myself?' If it’s the latter, consider switching to a non-tracking workout routine.
This study only looked at young Australian women—results may not apply to men, older adults, or cultures with different body ideals.
medium confidenceChoose fitness-only apps (like Strava or Nike Run Club) over calorie-counting apps if your goal is mental health and sustainable movement.
Some people benefit from tracking—especially those recovering from under-eating under medical supervision.
medium confidenceWhy this study matters
Diet + Fitness Apps = Double Trouble
Women using apps that track both diet and exercise showed significantly higher levels of disordered eating and body dissatisfaction than those using fitness-only apps or no apps. The study found this group had the worst psychological outcomes among all app users.
Most people think tracking food and exercise is healthy—but this study suggests combining them might backfire, especially for young women already sensitive to body image pressures.
It’s Not the App—It’s Your Motivation
The study found that appearance-based exercise motivations (like 'I exercise to change my body') fully mediated the link between app use and disordered eating. Women who used apps to look a certain way were far more likely to develop unhealthy habits.
This flips the script: it’s not the tech itself, but how you use it. The same app can be harmless if used for enjoyment—but dangerous if used for self-punishment.
The Fit-Ideal Trap
Women who strongly internalized the societal ideal of a lean, muscular body ('fit-ideal internalisation') were more vulnerable to disordered eating when using diet/fitness apps. This belief amplified the negative effects by 2.3x in statistical modeling.
It’s not just about using apps—it’s about how much you believe you need to look like Instagram models. The app doesn’t create the obsession; it fuels an existing one.
Want the whole report?
Detailed mode opens the full scientific breakdown — every score component, the methodology, conflicts of interest, the evidence analysis behind each claim, and the raw study data.
Overview
What the study found
The study in plain English — the bottom line, every takeaway we extracted, and what to do with them.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Some apps make you count every bite and step — but for some young women, this can make them obsess over their shape and exercise too much.
Research results
Women using diet or diet+fitness apps had worse body image and more compulsive exercise than those using fitness-only apps.
What this means - more context
Yes — this isn't just a small difference; it suggests these apps may push people toward unhealthy habits, especially if they already care a lot about looking 'fit'.
This study examined whether different types of diet and fitness apps are associated with disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and compulsive exercise in young women, and whether fit-ideal internalization and exercise motivations moderate or mediate these associations.
Women who used apps tracking diet or both diet and exercise reported significantly higher levels of disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and compulsive exercise than those using fitness-only apps or no apps. Fit-ideal internalization strengthened the link between app use and disordered eating, and appearance-based exercise motivations mediated this relationship.
Methods Used
Cross-sectional online survey of 386 Australian women aged 17–35; assessed app use types, disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, compulsive exercise, fit-ideal internalization, and exercise motivations using validated scales.
Main Finding
Diet and dual-tracking (diet + fitness) app users showed significantly higher levels of disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and compulsive exercise compared to fitness-only users or non-users; fit-ideal internalization moderated and appearance-based exercise motivations mediated these associations.
Confidence Level
Moderate — findings are statistically supported with reported effect sizes and confidence intervals, but cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
Study Flags
Red Flags
- •Cross-sectional design — cannot determine if apps cause problems or if people with existing issues are more likely to use them
- •No control group or intervention — only associations observed
- •Sample limited to Australian women aged 17–35 — not generalizable to men, adolescents, or other populations
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Surprising Findings
Fitness-only app users had significantly better body image and lower disordered eating than non-users.
Most assume any tracking is harmful—but this study found that tracking exercise alone was actually linked to better outcomes than no tracking at all.
Practical Takeaways
If you use a diet or fitness app, ask yourself: 'Am I tracking to feel better—or to punish myself?' If it’s the latter, consider switching to a non-tracking workout routine.
RCT reviewsReviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized TrialsRandomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort StudiesReviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort StudiesCohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control StudiesReviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control StudiesCase-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case SeriesCross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert OpinionExpert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Probability of being correct
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Human Cross-Sectional
Subject
Moderate probability
on the GRADE evidence scale
This study asked women if they used fitness apps and how they felt about their bodies, then found that people who used apps often also said they felt worse about themselves. But it didn't watch them over time, so we can't tell if the apps made them feel bad, or if they used the apps because they already felt bad.
No conflicts of interest were detected in this study. No score impact.
Strengths
- Clear operationalization of app use categories
- Use of validated psychological measures
- Analysis of potential mediators and moderators
Weaknesses
- Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
- No control for pre-existing mental health conditions
- Self-reported data subject to recall and social desirability bias
Methodology
Evidence Keywords
Statistical Reporting
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Some apps make you count every bite and step — but for some young women, this can make them obsess over their shape and exercise too much.
Research results
Women using diet or diet+fitness apps had worse body image and more compulsive exercise than those using fitness-only apps.
What this means - more context
Yes — this isn't just a small difference; it suggests these apps may push people toward unhealthy habits, especially if they already care a lot about looking 'fit'.
This study examined whether different types of diet and fitness apps are associated with disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and compulsive exercise in young women, and whether fit-ideal internalization and exercise motivations moderate or mediate these associations.
Women who used apps tracking diet or both diet and exercise reported significantly higher levels of disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and compulsive exercise than those using fitness-only apps or no apps. Fit-ideal internalization strengthened the link between app use and disordered eating, and appearance-based exercise motivations mediated this relationship.
Methods Used
Cross-sectional online survey of 386 Australian women aged 17–35; assessed app use types, disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, compulsive exercise, fit-ideal internalization, and exercise motivations using validated scales.
Main Finding
Diet and dual-tracking (diet + fitness) app users showed significantly higher levels of disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and compulsive exercise compared to fitness-only users or non-users; fit-ideal internalization moderated and appearance-based exercise motivations mediated these associations.
Confidence Level
Moderate — findings are statistically supported with reported effect sizes and confidence intervals, but cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
Study Flags
Red Flags
- •Cross-sectional design — cannot determine if apps cause problems or if people with existing issues are more likely to use them
- •No control group or intervention — only associations observed
- •Sample limited to Australian women aged 17–35 — not generalizable to men, adolescents, or other populations
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Surprising Findings
Fitness-only app users had significantly better body image and lower disordered eating than non-users.
Most assume any tracking is harmful—but this study found that tracking exercise alone was actually linked to better outcomes than no tracking at all.
Practical Takeaways
If you use a diet or fitness app, ask yourself: 'Am I tracking to feel better—or to punish myself?' If it’s the latter, consider switching to a non-tracking workout routine.
RCT reviewsReviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized TrialsRandomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort StudiesReviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort StudiesCohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control StudiesReviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control StudiesCase-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case SeriesCross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert OpinionExpert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Probability of being correct
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Human Cross-Sectional
Subject
Moderate probability
on the GRADE evidence scale
This study asked women if they used fitness apps and how they felt about their bodies, then found that people who used apps often also said they felt worse about themselves. But it didn't watch them over time, so we can't tell if the apps made them feel bad, or if they used the apps because they already felt bad.
No conflicts of interest were detected in this study. No score impact.
Strengths
- Clear operationalization of app use categories
- Use of validated psychological measures
- Analysis of potential mediators and moderators
Weaknesses
- Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
- No control for pre-existing mental health conditions
- Self-reported data subject to recall and social desirability bias
Methodology
Evidence Keywords
Statistical Reporting
Scoring
How strong is this study?
The study asked good questions and talked to a lot of people, which is great. But since everyone just answered a survey once, and we don't know if they were honest or had other problems before, we can't be super sure the results are totally reliable.
0 / 100
- COI disclosureconflicts of interest not disclosed
- Data availabilitydata not shared
- Code availabilitycode not shared
21 / 100
- Randomizationnot randomized
- Blindingblinding unclear
- Control groupno control group
- Sample size (n=386)+17.1/20
- Follow-upno follow-up reported
100 / 100
77 / 100
- P-values+15/15
- Effect size+20/20
- Confidence intervals+15/15
- Pre-registrationnot pre-registered
Each component is scored out of 100 and then capped by the study design — a case series cannot reach the ceiling a randomised trial can, however well it is reported.
Where it sits
RCT reviewsReviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized TrialsRandomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort StudiesReviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort StudiesCohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control StudiesReviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control StudiesCase-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case SeriesCross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert OpinionExpert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Probability of being correct
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
This design cannot establish causation — the findings describe an association, not a cause. This is a cross-sectional study with no randomization, control group, or temporal data collection, so it cannot determine whether app use causes disordered eating or if individuals with existing concerns are more likely to use these apps.
No Conflicts
No conflicts of interest identified
No conflicts of interest or funding disclosures were reported in the study text.
The study lacks any declared funding sources or conflict of interest statement. While the authors are affiliated with academic institutions, no industry ties or financial relationships are disclosed. Data availability is noted as confidential, which may limit transparency but does not constitute a confirmed conflict.