MyFitnessPal, an OG in the food-tracking app space, has released preliminary data revealing that nearly 50% of its app subscribers who use the app daily achieved their weight loss goal (5%) within 16 weeks, with premium users logging a higher success rate (49.3%) than non-premium users (46.9%).

“Those who actively logged food in MyFitnessPal and engaged more frequently with the app were statistically more likely to reach their weight loss goal within four months,” said Dr. Zhaoping Li, professor of medicine and chief of the division of clinical nutrition at the University of California, Los Angeles. “This finding underscores the role of consistent food tracking as a cornerstone of progress towards weight loss goals.”

As MyFitnessPal points out, committing in the early stages appears to pay off. According to the nutrition app’s internal data, MyFitnessPal found that those who logged their food at least four days within their first week were seven times more likely to make measurable progress toward their weight loss goals.

“Whether you’re just starting out or navigating a medically-supported program, MyFitnessPal offers the tools and insights to support you every step of the way,” MyFitnessPal CEO Mike Fisher said. “While weight loss can seem daunting, just logging one meal can be the start of success.”

Fisher was appointed CEO of the popular nutrition-tracking app last year.

The platform has also been shown to be effective in medical weight management programs, such as Australia’s Medmate, a telehealth company that integrates GLP-1 medication with a premium MyFitnessPal subscription. Those who tracked their food intake with the app were 32% more likely to stick to their GLP-1 treatment than those who did not track foods, and by the eighth week, 37% who tracked their meals remained engaged in the weight management program.

“These results underscore the importance of food tracking in enhancing adherence to complex medical treatments and fostering long-term behavior change,” Medmate CEO and medical director Dr. Ganesh Naidoo said.

MyFitnessPal recently released a new voice-to-text feature for premium members this month, making tracking nutrition intake even easier. The latest offering follows MyFitnessPal’s other tools, such as barcode and image-based meal scanning.

“At MyFitnessPal, we’re always looking for new ways to make nutrition tracking easier and less time-consuming for our members,” MyFitnessPal chief product officer Tim Holley said. “Voice Log is a big step forward in simplifying the experience. By making logging more intuitive, we’re helping our members stay focused on reaching their goals.”

The post Nutrition Tracking Boosts Weight Loss, MyFitnessPal Finds appeared first on Athletech News.

The global fitness app market size is projected to grow by $55.86 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to a new market report from Technavio, with health management, chronic diseases, and integrated video coaching platforms as key growth drivers.

While the fitness app space is particularly promising for its AI-driven personalization, convenience, affordability, and wearable tech integration, user engagement and retention pose a challenge for the competitive fitness app market, according to the global technology research and advisory company.

Notably, the integration of video into coaching platforms signals a shift toward more effective and engaging fitness experiences—a trend Technavio expects will significantly boost the market.

Major deals in the fitness app sector suggest Technavio’s projections are on track, with industry players already making moves to capitalize on the trend.

Virtual indoor training platform TrainingPeaks recently acquired cycling platform IndieVelo, giving endurance athletes the ability to find training plans, schedules, and structured workouts while allowing TrainingPeaks coaches to better assist users and build community reach with virtually hosted group rides and races. Meanwhile, AI-powered coaching app Coopah raised £1.5 million ($1.9 million) this fall in a seed funding round for its personalized training plan and AI-powered platform for runners.

SageHouse, an investment and advisory firm for fitness brands, also unveiled proof3 this year as a longevity-focused remote coaching platform that offers those 30 years and above personalized fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle plans. Brick-and-mortar brands, such as luxury athletic country club operator Life Time, added fitness and meditation classes to its complementary app. At the same time, SweatPals secured $3 million for its connection-building fitness app.

Technavio’s report can be found here.

The post Video Coaching Poised to Lead Fitness App Market, Per Report appeared first on Athletech News.