Turn on your TV or open a web browser this January, and you’ll be bombarded with ads for fitness trackers, smart scales, health apps, and other digital innovations promising to streamline your journey to a happier and healthier you. It’s the time of year when we’re most susceptible to such messaging: Surveys show that at least one-third of our New Year’s resolutions focus on exercising, losing weight, or eating better.
That’s great news for the $45 billion fitness tracking industry, which spends vast sums on advertising designed to convince us that data is the key to better living. The marketing campaigns work: Each January, fitness app downloads spike 36% higher than usual. We’ve also seen the rise of over 400 personalized nutrition companies, while over 12 million people have sequenced their DNA through 23andMe.
advertisement
Only one problem: The data isn’t working. At least 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each year. Obesity rates soared from 31% to 42% over the past decade. Life expectancy is declining. We were told data would put us in control, but we’re actually less healthy than ever.
Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.
Subscribe Log In
Previous article：
Study: Why relieving medical debt did not improve financial outcomes
Next article： What does generative AI mean for health care? We asked experts
Next article： What does generative AI mean for health care? We asked experts
