Are you healthier since buying the Apple Watch?

[Eso]

I'm just curious about what people think about their health after having purchased and used the Apple Watch. Certain YouTubers seem convinced that it's one of the most important health related products of the decade. I'm not convinced that it makes all that much of a difference, but maybe it does. Of all the people that I regularly see that wear an Apple Watch (such as co-workers and family), I never seem them do much with it, such as launching apps, sending messages, etc. I always just see these people use their phones instead. It gives me the impression of being vastly over-engineered. However, perhaps the health-centric features of the watch make the difference.

Has your health improved since buying the Apple Watch? Do you feel healthier, more athletic, more energetic? Have you measured or been tracking some quantifiable health metric that has demonstrably improved since using the Apple Watch? In your response, focus on results and not input. For example, think less about whether or not you regularly "close the rings", but about the degree to which closing the rings has impacted your health.

 

[Howard2k]

Technically yes, but only because we’re getting into spring and I’m starting my running anyway. So I’m seeing the benefits, but it wouldn’t be accurate to say that’s it’s because of the watch. I would have captured the stats on a Fitbit (and health increase) if it hadn’t died. And if I had neither (AW nor Fitbit) then the benefits would have been there, but not captured So I voted no, because it would be wrong to give the watch the credit, but it is cool to see all the same.

 

[Snørrbjørg]

No. Trains a lot since long before I got my AW. Just as healthy as before.

Voted #3

 

[bricktop_at]

In my case, getting the watch with all the health features made me start working out again (jogging, walking, weight training), after a 2.5 years "pause" due to certain circumstances ;-)
So since I started about a year and a half ago, my resting pulse has lowered by about 15 beats and is now around 60. My blood pressure is also significantly lower and the cardiofitness/vo2max level has increased from 32 to about 44.... and the weight loss is definitely measurable as well ^^

 

[akash.nu]

Ultimately being healthy is a personal choice. No gadget can make someone become healthy unless they explicitly choose to do so. The gadgets are there to track your efforts, not make you do it.

So in that front nothing has changed for me. I have been working out since way before Apple or Fitbit made any such devices. The only thing that has changed is that now I have the data and I can track my progress.

Alongside the health data my Apple Watch is my go to companion for everything including quick response to texts, calls, checking notifications at a glance, putting on timers, reminders, payment, checking public transport timings, calling Uber etc etc. Either the people you know don’t know how to use the watch in their lifestyle or they use it so quickly that you don’t notice or really there’s no need for the watch in their lives.

The watch is not meant to be used for minutes and hours the way we use our phones. Anything quick and easy should go to watch but if it requires more engaging interaction then it’s better on the phone of course.

 

[firedept]

No change here. I have gone to the gym for most of my life. I have a routine that I like. That routine has kept me in very good physical condition. But I’m sure it has done well for a lot of people.

 

[Juicy Box]

Has your health improved since buying the Apple Watch?

Yes.

Do you feel healthier, more athletic, more energetic?

Yes.

Have you measured or been tracking some quantifiable health metric that has demonstrably improved since using the Apple Watch?

No.

Just to be clear, owning an AW will not make you more healthier, but it could be used as a tool to help with certain things like workout tracking, steps, heart rate, etc., imo.

My story....

A along while ago, I was in the military, very healthy, fit, active, and a runner. I didn't eat healthy, but I had an athletic build, and if anything, I had trouble gaining mass.

For example, I am 5' 10", and weighed 118Lbs at the time of my enlistment. I really had trouble gaining any weight, but managed to fill out a bit after a few years.

I got hurt in Afghanistan and had a surgery on my knee. It is a long story, but basically the surgery failed, and I end up leaving the military because of it.

I gained 33lbs in the 90 days following my surgery. While doing physical therapy, I struggled to lose weight.

After leaving the military, I just continued to gain weight, about 6.5lbs a year for 12 years, so about 80 lbs on top of the 30lbs I gained following my surgery.

I got a bad blood test result in Oct 2019, the doctor saying that my A1C result was high (6.2%), and I need to take another test in 3 months to confirm I was diabetic.

I guess that scared me, so I started working out and eating (a little) healthier. I have a bad knee, so working out was difficult, but I managed to lose 15 pounds over about 6 months. I purchased my Apple Watch in March 2020, just prior to Covid, to assist me in getting healthier.

Oh yeah, my doctor rescheduled the appointment and Jan of 2020, for March 2020 to see him and get my blood work (VA doctors), so I didn't actually get my blood test until Sept 2020 due to Covid.

Covid happened, and by July I ended up gaining back almost all the weight I lost. This was with my Apple Watch being worn everyday.

I scheduled the blood test for Sept 2020, and in July 2020, I decided right then and there that I would lose some weight, and I changed my eating habits a lot, with a little bit of exercise, and I dropped 35Lbs from my heaviest on Sept 2020.

My A1C test came out good (5.7%), and I continued to lose weight, although not nearly as fast. As of a few hours ago when I weighed myself, I am exactly 50lbs less than my heaviest, and 48lbs less than I was in July 2020.

I plan on losing at least 20 more pounds by the end of the year, putting me under 200lbs.

I feel great, and stronger than ever due to the resistance training. I use my watch to help me keep track of my workouts, heart rate, and steps. I don't do running anymore due to the bad knee, but personally, I think resistance training is a much better way of losing weight and getting healthy, after making healthy food choices of course.


Bottom line: Having an Apple Watch did not make me healthier, and at a certain point, I actually got less healthy shortly after purchasing my first AW. I am sure that positive health changes would have happened regardless of owning an Apple Watch.

IMO, you can treat the Apple Watch as a tool to assist you living a healthier lifestyle, but the AW alone won't do crap.

The most important thing is eating right, I don't think the AW really impacts that at all. The second is being more active, which the AW could assist, but you have to want it.

 

[mrsmith1]

Yes as I’ve used a calorie counter app on my watch and lost half a stone.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

Yes, I was quite fit and healthy before, but wearing the watch has increased the amount of exercise I get regularly. I wasn’t sure it would do much for me starting from quite a high level (not elite athlete or anything) but it does motivate me to move more, and more often.

 

[Hlvd]

Maybe not healthier, but definitely a better understanding of my body, especially sleep.

I consider it one of my best ever purchases and if I'd have known how integrated into my life it is I'd have purchased one sooner.

 

[bricktop_at]

I consider it one of my best ever purchases and if I'd have known how integrated into my life it is I'd have purchased one sooner.

Exactly how I feel about it as well.

 

[Mistborn15]

not just the Apple watch. My old Gear S3 (and fitbit before that) helped a lot in staying fit and I couldn't have stayed motivated during the lockdown without the fitness watch

 

[Freakonomics101]

I was until the pandemic started… plus having covid in March of 2020 kicked my ass for months, physically. Several effects lasted a long time. I gained about 12 lbs last year. Gyms require masks but unfortunately heat and sweat make me have panic attacks so I don’t go out if I have to. I’m now vaccinated so once the mask mandate is lifted, off to the gym I go. Workouts at home is difficult in terms of motivation. But now that it’s getting warmer out (US), it’ll be easier for me to go on walks and jogs again.

Other than that I’m healthy as a horse and both asthma and diabetes are under control. Mental health illnesses are somewhat different stories.

 

[MJ22]

I’ve been tracking calories since 2009 and always wore a Fitbit before, as well as being a runner of 26 years. So I wouldn’t say it’s been a huge motivating factor; I’m about the same. I do like the Apple fitness+ classes because I tend to be too heavy on the running and not much other types of activity, and I’ve started squeezing in cycling, rowing, and strength a lot more.

 

[MisterSavage]

My usage of my iPhone definitely dropped when I got my watch. Now I can just glance at my wrist to see if a text is important, answer it from there if it is, answer calls, and use Apple Pay.

I was already exercising before I got the watch BUT I had no idea I was sitting for such extended periods of time during work. The stand alerts have been such an eye opener and have broken that bad habit for me. With all the stories about how bad sitting for long periods of time is for your health I would say it has made me healthier.

 

[McScooby]

My wallet sure is lighter!🤣

 

[JonnyBlaze]

My usage of my iPhone definitely dropped when I got my watch. Now I can just glance at my wrist to see if a text is important, answer it from there if it is, answer calls, and use Apple Pay.

I was already exercising before I got the watch BUT I had no idea I was sitting for such extended periods of time during work. The stand alerts have been such an eye opener and have broken that bad habit for me. With all the stories about how bad sitting for long periods of time is for your health I would say it has made me healthier.

Yep, actually you've described exactly what I have found, but I didn’t describe it as well in my post above. very much this.

 

[jbachandouris]

I voted no.
I already walk everyday, rain or shine, for an hour. I had laparoscopic surgery in February. I walked the morning before the surgery and the day after the surgery. Now that the gyms are open and I am medically cleared, I run also anywhere from 2-3.5 miles at least 3-4 times a week. I also use weight training, but not as many days as I should. Although I use Apple Watch to record these, I don't need AW to inspire me.

The biggest issue is the streaks. Part of any successful fitness program are REST days. You can't do a streak and have rest days. Sometimes the monthly challenges are insane, but I always find a way to meet them.

So no, no measurable difference in fitness at all.

 

[tcphoto1]

I seem to only wear it when exercising and want to monitor my runs and Vo2 number. I was fairly fit when I transitioned from an Ironman watch to the AW, I'm just wanting to keep it going in a positive direction.

 

[dmccloud]

Since my exercise/workout routine has not changed, having an Apple Watch on its own has had no effect on me in terms of making me more healthy. What has changed is that I can just wear the watch and track exercise instead of having to rely on my old phone (Note 10+) to keep track for me. There's a convenience factor at play when you can just glance at your wrist instead of pulling out a phone, unlocking it, then going to the health app to see where you're at for the day.

 

[RPhoto]

I think those who were already in to fitness would not get the motivational benefit. Those who were not, would do so more. I am in the latter category. I went from never doing exercise ever, to now being in the best shape I’ve ever been in (I’m now in my early 40’s, waaaah). It’s all thanks to the watch, tracking various metrics and those pesky rings.

 

[TomOSeven]

Can you elaborate what rings you're referring to? I never used any fitness watches or rings.

 

[MisterSavage]

Can you elaborate what rings you're referring to? I never used any fitness watches or rings.

The three rings are move, exercise, and stand. The more you do in one of those categories throughout the day the more that ring progresses until it is fully closed. You can see your rings in some watch faces and/or watch face complications.

 

[sixtydashone]

I'm healthier since the pandemic began. When we started working from home last March I realized I was going to be far more sedentary than I previously had been, so I bought a bike and have been cycling every day since, weather permitting. The watch has been a great, fun motivational tool which helps keep me going. I can see my idle heart rate has decreased and HRV has increased since last March. I've also put on about 10lbs of muscle since then. I'm 47 and feel like my cardiovascular health is probably the best it's ever been.

 

[Runs For Fun]

I would say no it hasn’t made me any healthier but only because I had been eating right and working out hard before I got my first Apple Watch. I was already in a healthy routine.