Weight loss journeys can be tough. You have to battle overcoming weight loss plateaus and find the right balance between exercise and a healthy diet. Week after week, you track your progress to see if the pounds are falling off. Sometimes, it gets frustrating when you don’t see the results you were hoping for.
Is there something that can make the journey a little easier? Maybe, an app? The good news is that there’s no shortage of weight management apps out there. The question is, are they effective?
The Popularity of Weight Loss Apps
In today’s society, we’re all about life hacks. Anything that makes a process more streamlined, more efficient, quicker, or more easily achieved sounds GR8. We use apps for everything. Time management apps, apps that help with brain training, and just about anything else that you can think of.
Fitness and weight loss apps are no different. It’s reported that more than 27 million people use Fitbit every month, and 19 million use MyFitnessPal. Another 15 million use S Health from Samsung. And those are just the top three apps in the United States. There are countless others.
Do Weight Loss Apps Work?
It’s reported that 80% of individuals who attempt to lose weight do so without the help of a personal trainer or other specialized methods. Since many weight loss programs, such as meal delivery services and even gym memberships can be costly, apps appeal to a large number of these individuals.
However, the same research shows that many apps lack the one thing that personal trainers and paid services can provide. Accountability.
If you’ve paid for a product or service, you’re more likely to use it since it cost you a chunk of your paycheck that you don’t want to see go to waste. Many weight loss apps are free, so users don’t feel they’ve lost anything when they stop using them.
The Bottom Line
If you’re implementing a weight loss plan and don’t want to shell out big bucks for custom services, weight loss apps can be the right way to go. And some versions provide virtual accountability.
Noom, for example, advertises itself as a long-term weight loss and weight management app that comes with a fee but provides users with one-on-one digital meetings with their weight loss coach. Systems like these can be useful for individuals looking to stick to a plan using an app.
However, free apps can be just as effective for others. What it all comes down to is self-accountability and your determination to stick to a plan. Be your source of motivation. You can do it.
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