Obsessing over fitness apps is decidedly bad for your health | Arwa Mahdawi

Self-tracking tools are not troubling per se - but, having recovered from anorexia, I know how damaging it can be to fixate on data

If you want to develop "obsessive tendencies", there is an app for that. There are several, in fact. You may have downloaded a bunch of them on 1 January in a rush of resolution-making.

Fitness apps such as Strava, MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper can be useful tools for motivating you to start and stick to a workout regime. But, according to a study at the National University of Ireland, Galway, these apps can also encourage obsessive attitudes towards exercise. The study, which observed 272 cyclists who use Strava, found that people who predominately use the tool to show off - posting their workouts to receive praise, for example - are more likely to develop an unhealthy compulsion and high stress levels.