We have all been there. At some point in our fitness journeys, we have turned towards technology in an effort to make our lives easier. The ins and outs of nutrition and fitness can be complex, but somehow, none of the technological solutions out there seem to be all that helpful. After downloading what appears to be a useful application, beginners are overwhelmed by a surplus of information, much of which is barely relevant to their actual goals and only furthers confusion. Even individuals much further along on their fitness journeys rarely find utility in popular nutrition and fitness apps, as gimmicky functionalities and excessive information often convolute the underlying technology that is actually valuable to the average user. The worst part is, most of the time, before even realizing how atrocious the actual platform in question is, prospective users are slapped with a request for their credit card information. These trends have massively reduced the credibility of the nutrition and fitness technology industry as a whole, creating a cynical consumer who, rightfully, questions the legitimacy of every new “tool” out there based on past experience.
Overwhelming Requirements from Users
One thing that all of these platforms have in common is that they simply require far too much from their users. Before even getting access to the platform, users are often prompted for a plethora of personal information such as height, weight, age, unique goals, dietary preferences, ingredients the user generally keeps at home, allergies, average activity levels, occupation, favorite color, and/or much more. Some of these apps make applying for college look easy! Before the user even gets an idea of what the app looks like, they are already fatigued and disinterested. Even after users battle through initial information requests, they are often required to regularly update the app with additional information such as availability of certain ingredients at home, daily activity levels, current body weight, recent workouts, recent meals, and more. Even if the individual starts using the platform, maintaining consistent use is difficult and inconvenient. In an effort to offer users a “personalized experience,” many existing apps just over complicate the process and place unnecessary burdens on the user.
The Fallacy of Over-Personalization
Furthermore, over-personalization can convey delusion. Some things are true for everyone. If you want to lose weight, consume fewer calories than you burn. If you want to build muscle, eat more protein and lift weights. Over-personalization can distance users from these core truths, giving them the impression that a new app can somehow help them work around the science behind body composition management.
While personalization can be helpful for some, it should be done on the users’ terms, not the platform’s. Existing apps ask for all of a user’s information and offer relevant functionalities in return. Instead, users should be able to determine which functionalities will be relevant to them and should only be required to provide information applicable to those functionalities. Ask not what I can do for my fitness app, ask what my fitness app can do for me.
The Problem with Feature Overload
Another common pitfall of modern fitness and nutrition apps is feature overload. Many apps try to do everything at once—offering meal plans, grocery shopping lists, workout tracking, macro calculations, hydration reminders, sleep tracking, habit coaching, community forums, and more. While this might sound great on the surface, it often results in a cluttered and confusing user experience. Instead of excelling in one area, these apps spread themselves too thin, making everything feel half-baked.
This overload not only makes navigation difficult but also discourages users from engaging with the app long-term. Instead of being a helpful, intuitive tool, the app becomes another burden, another thing to “check off the list” each day. When users open an app and see a dashboard crammed with a dozen metrics they don’t care about, they feel overwhelmed and are more likely to abandon the platform altogether.
Subscription Traps & Hidden Costs
One of the biggest complaints from users of dieting and fitness apps is the prevalence of subscription traps. Many apps lure users in with the promise of free features, only to lock the most essential tools behind a paywall. It’s not uncommon for someone to spend time setting up their profile, inputting their data, and exploring features, only to be hit with a “Start Your Free Trial” prompt before they can actually use the app in a meaningful way.
While developers need to monetize their apps, the way this is done often feels deceptive. Users are misled into thinking they are getting a functional app for free, only to realize that everything useful is locked behind a monthly fee. Worse yet, many of these subscriptions are difficult to cancel, relying on users forgetting about them while they continue being charged. This practice erodes trust and further alienates potential customers.
The Guilt & Shame Factor
Another reason people hate dieting and fitness apps is the psychological burden they can create. Many of these apps use aggressive notifications, streaks, and reminders that make users feel guilty rather than motivated. If you skip a day of tracking, the app bombards you with push notifications. If you don’t meet your calorie goals, you get a red warning. If you break a streak, you feel like you’ve failed.
While some users may find these features motivating, for many, they create an unhealthy relationship with food and exercise. Dieting apps, in particular, can contribute to disordered eating behaviors by making people hyper-focused on numbers rather than overall well-being. Food should be enjoyed, not just calculated. Exercise should be empowering, not just another obligation on a to-do list.
Lack of Real-World Integration
Fitness and nutrition don’t exist in a vacuum. People have busy lives, varying schedules, social obligations, and personal preferences that can make rigid tracking difficult. Yet, many apps fail to acknowledge this. They expect users to log every meal, track every workout, and maintain perfect consistency, which is simply unrealistic.
Most users don’t want to spend 10 minutes after every meal inputting exact portion sizes and macronutrient breakdowns. They don’t want to manually enter every exercise and rep. They need apps that integrate seamlessly into their lives, offering guidance without demanding excessive time and effort.
What Needs to Change?
If fitness and nutrition apps truly want to be helpful, they need to shift their focus. Instead of overwhelming users with excessive personalization, feature bloat, and constant tracking requirements, they should prioritize simplicity, flexibility, and usability.
- Give users control: Let them choose which features they want to engage with instead of forcing them to provide excessive personal information upfront.
- Streamline the interface: Reduce clutter and ensure that essential functionalities are easily accessible.
- Ditch the guilt tactics: Stop using streaks and warnings that make users feel like failures.
- Make pricing transparent: If an app requires a subscription, be upfront about it rather than luring users in with misleading claims.
- Focus on sustainable habits: Encourage gradual, long-term lifestyle changes rather than short-term, unsustainable tracking habits.
The Macro Vision
Every new app claims to be different, but in reality, most are not. Ironically enough, this is what inspired us to launch Macro. We believe nutrition and fitness technology should work for the user, not against them. Instead of creating yet another overcomplicated, data-hungry, guilt-inducing platform, we are designing a solution that truly simplifies and enhances the user experience.
We understand that food and fitness should integrate into your life, not take it over. Our mission is to eliminate unnecessary complexity and provide a tool that actually helps people achieve their health goals without making them feel like they need a second job just to track everything.
It’s time to redefine what a fitness and nutrition app should be. And with Macro, that change starts now.
One response to “Why Do Most Dieting and Fitness Apps Suck?”
Hi, this is a comment.
To get started with moderating, editing, and deleting comments, please visit the Comments screen in the dashboard.
Commenter avatars come from Gravatar.