THE WELLBEING PARADOX
Keeping on top of our wellbeing has never been more popular. So, why isn’t the UK getting any healthier and what is the key to unlocking our wellness in the future? Jennifer Wallis investigates
Fitness trackers these days do so much more than simply counting steps – they track our sleep, heart rate and water intake. Even menstrual cycles.
There were 311 million health app users in 2023 alone, with health apps being downloaded a whopping total of 379 million times1, according to a recent report.
We’ve also seen the rise in ‘wellness holidays’ – with the industry going one step further and creating ‘longevity tourism’ where holidaymakers can have stem cell treatments alongside a shot of botox2.
Despite the plethora of emerging ways that we can ‘get well’, we are not getting any healthier as a nation, with over nine million people predicted to be living with an illness by 20403.
Also worrying is that anxiety and depression rates among people working in the UK surged 83% over the past 10 years, according to Vitality’s most recent Britain’s Healthiest Workplace figures4.
increase in anxiety and depression rates among young UK workers
What’s holding us all back from living the wellness dream?
health app users in 2023
health app downloads
LET’S GET PERSONALISED
“Despite us knowing what’s good for us, making healthy decisions is not easy,” Dr Katie Tryon, Vitality’s Director of Health Strategy tells Vitality Magazine. “But technology and digital tools can help make looking after our health more engaging, through truly personalised recommendations that are tailored to an individual’s needs in real-time – and make them more likely to take positive action.”
Neuroscientist and leading habit hacking expert, Dr Julia Jones, adds that learning how our basic biology works and being aware of the signals that our body sends us when we are unwell, is key to making sure we remain in control, ensuring technology supports but does not override our intuition.
“One of the biggest challenges for our health today is the monumental knowledge gap whereby most people are not fully aware of how their brain and body works.” Jones states.
“Using a biometric measuring device [such as the new Samsung Ring] can bring your underlying biology to life, as you start to see how the small actions in your daily routine can positively and negatively impact those ancient systems. It's a great educational tool.”
This is something Vitality partner Samsung has been incorporating in its devices. “Samsung has started incorporating AI into wearable devices, which can intelligently analyse your health data, giving you even more closely tailored insights and recommendations," says Samsung Product Specialist, Lee Dinham.
"At Samsung, we are constantly improving and looking at different ways AI can help enhance health and wellbeing." Flick to page 15 to read more about how Samsung’s devices can help improve your wellbeing.
FINDING THE BALANCE
Considering how we are becoming increasingly reliant on technology and our growing interest in wellness trends as a society, it’s clear that wearable usage is only going to grow. But is there a danger we’ll become too dependent on them, creating a wellbeing paradox? It's all about finding a balance.
Apps [and devices] can be an incredible resource for looking after your wellbeing,” explains Kim Murray, Meditation Teacher, Tapping Practitioner and founder of online mental health service Happy Heads. However, she believes that the antidote to over-relying on apps and smart devices is human connection.
“I think [in the future when it comes to our wellbeing] people will start to seek out more in person one-to-one support rather just using devices which can often disconnect us from human interaction.” Face-to-face interaction could come from “sessions with a wellbeing practitioner in person, therapy, speaking with trusted friends, mindfulness workshops, meditation groups, yoga classes – anything that physically connects you to other human beings”.
Murray also urges us to be mindful when it comes accessing apps through our mobile phones, especially as they are designed to keep people coming back to them. “They are one of the biggest causes of stress and anxiety,” she says.
“People have access to world news around the clock, social media makes you compare your life to others, constant emails or texts and notification pings that continually hook people in.”
Is your wellbeing in need of some TLC?
LET’S GET PERSONALISED
“Despite us knowing what’s good for us, making healthy decisions is not easy,” Dr Katie Tryon, Vitality’s Director of Health Strategy tells Vitality Magazine. “But technology and digital tools can help make looking after our health more engaging, through truly personalised recommendations that are tailored to an individual’s needs in real-time – and make them more likely to take positive action.”
Neuroscientist and leading habit hacking expert, Dr Julia Jones, adds that learning how our basic biology works and being aware of the signals that our body sends us when we are unwell, is key to making sure we remain in control, ensuring technology supports but does not override our intuition.
FINDING THE BALANCE
Considering how we are becoming increasingly reliant on technology and our growing interest in wellness trends as a society, it’s clear that wearable usage is only going to grow. But is there a danger we’ll become too dependent on them, creating a wellbeing paradox? It's all about finding a balance.
"Apps [and devices] can be an incredible resource for looking after your wellbeing,” explains Kim Murray, Meditation Teacher, Tapping Practitioner and founder of online mental health service Happy Heads. However, she believes that the antidote to over-relying on apps and smart devices is human connection.
“One of the biggest challenges for our health today is the monumental knowledge gap whereby most people are not fully aware of how their brain and body works.” Jones states.
“Using a biometric measuring device [such as the new Samsung Ring] can bring your underlying biology to life, as you start to see how the small actions in your daily routine can positively and negatively impact those ancient systems. It's a great educational tool.”
“I think [in the future when it comes to our wellbeing] people will start to seek out more in person one-to-one support rather just using devices which can often disconnect us from human interaction.” Face-to-face interaction could come from “sessions with a wellbeing practitioner in person, therapy, speaking with trusted friends, mindfulness workshops, meditation groups, yoga classes – anything that physically connects you to other human beings”.
Murray also urges us to be mindful when it comes to accessing apps through our mobile phones, especially as they are designed to keep people coming back to them. “They are one of the biggest causes of stress and anxiety,” she says.
“People have access to world news around the clock, social media makes you compare your life to others, constant emails or texts and notification pings that continually hook people in.”
This is something Vitality partner Samsung has been incorporating in its devices. “Samsung has started incorporating AI into wearable devices, which can intelligently analyse your health data, giving you even more closely tailored insights and recommendations," says Samsung Product Specialist, Lee Dinham. "At Samsung, we are constantly improving and looking at different ways AI can help enhance health and wellbeing." Flick to page 15 to find out more about how Samsung’s devices can help improve your wellbeing.
GOING BACK TO OUR ROOTS
When it comes to actually finding a wellness routine that works for you, Dr Jones recommends going back to basics, supported – not determined – by technology.
“Reinstating basic habits that our ancestors used to have in their day as a normal routine. For example, starting our circadian rhythm when you first get up or the time of day you have ‘breakfast’. Most people are not actually in a fasted state when they have their first meal because they are overeating during the previous day.
"So, they are not actually ‘breaking the fast’ with that first meal and there are physiological implications of that.”
“Prioritising your mental health is one of the best ways you can safeguard your wellbeing,” adds Murray.
She suggests asking yourself one simple question each day: “What am I doing to look after my mental health today?”. We can do this by making sure we set aside time for meal planning, to make sure we are eating well, exercising and meditation.
If you’re a newbie meditator, apps such as Headspace are a great place to start, which means we use our smart phones as an enabler for our wellbeing, not a detractor. “Your brain is the most important part of your body,” she concludes.
“When you regularly make your brain a priority you start to understand what your nervous system needs each day and it becomes much easier to regulate your emotions, even when faced with challenges.”
Our verdict? With digital tools increasingly becoming in tune with our individual needs, embracing them in the right way can clearly help us unlock a healthier future – providing we remain in touch with our innate connection with human intuition.
GOING BACK TO OUR ROOTS
When it comes to actually finding a wellness routine that works for you, Dr Jones recommends going back to basics, supported – not determined – by technology.
“Reinstating basic habits that our ancestors used to have in their day as a normal routine. For example, starting our circadian rhythm when you first get up or the time of day you have ‘breakfast’. Most people are not actually in a fasted state when they have their first meal because they are overeating during the previous day.
"So, they are not actually ‘breaking the fast’ with that first meal and there are physiological implications of that.”
“Prioritising your mental health is one of the best ways you can safeguard your wellbeing,” adds Murray.
She suggests asking yourself one simple question each day: “What am I doing to look after my mental health today?”. We can do this by making sure we set aside time for meal planning, to make sure we are eating well, exercising and meditation.
She suggests asking yourself one simple question each day: “What am I doing to look after my mental health today?”. We can do this by making sure we set aside time for meal planning, to make sure we are eating well, exercising and meditation.
If you’re a newbie meditator, apps such as Headspace are a great place to start, which means we use our smart phones as an enabler for our wellbeing, not a detractor. “Your brain is the most important part of your body,” she concludes.
“When you regularly make your brain a priority you start to understand what your nervous system needs each day and it becomes much easier to regulate your emotions, even when faced with challenges.”
Our verdict? With digital tools increasingly becoming in tune with our individual needs, embracing them in the right way can clearly help us unlock a healthier future – providing we remain in touch with our innate connection with human intuition.
1 Health App Revenue and Usage Statistics (2024) - Business of Apps
2 The Times, 2024
3 Watt T, Raymond A, Rachet-Jacquet L, Head A, Kypridemos C, Kelly E, Charlesworth A. Health in 2040: projected patterns of illness in England. The Health Foundation; 2023 (https://doi.org/10.37829/HF-2023-RC03).
4 10 Years of Britain’s Healthiest Workforce, Vitality, 2024
