The Dark Side of Health Tracking
Let’s face it, the wellness industry has become a behemoth, with everyone from yoga instructors to tech giants trying to get in on the action. And one of the fastest-growing areas of this industry is health tracking technology. From fitness trackers to smart scales, it seems like there’s no end to the ways in which we can monitor our bodies and our health. But have you ever stopped to think about whether all this tracking is actually making us healthier, or just more obsessed with our bodies?
Take, for example, the phenomenon of ‘orthorexia’ – an eating disorder characterized by an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. While it may seem counterintuitive, the rise of health tracking technology has been linked to an increase in cases of orthorexia, as people become more and more fixated on their diet and exercise routines. And it’s not just eating disorders – the constant stream of health data can also contribute to anxiety and stress, as people feel pressure to meet certain standards or goals.
The Problem with ‘Optimization’
One of the main selling points of health tracking technology is the idea that it can help us ‘optimize’ our bodies and our health. But what does this even mean? Is it really possible to reduce the complexities of human health to a set of numbers and metrics, or are we just kidding ourselves? The answer, of course, is that health is far more complicated than that – and yet, we continue to try to simplify it, to boil it down to a set of easy-to-understand metrics and benchmarks.
This obsession with optimization is not just limited to health tracking technology, of course. It’s a broader cultural phenomenon, one that reflects our deep-seated desire for control and mastery over our lives. And yet, the more we try to control and optimize our health, the more we seem to lose sight of what’s really important – our overall wellbeing, our happiness, our relationships with others.
The Importance of Context
So what’s the alternative to this obsessive focus on health tracking technology? How can we take a more nuanced and balanced approach to our health, one that takes into account the complexities and uncertainties of human life? The answer, I think, lies in context. Rather than focusing solely on our individual health metrics, we need to consider the broader social and environmental factors that shape our lives – our access to healthy food and exercise, our exposure to stress and pollution, our relationships with family and friends.
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ‘social determinants of health’ – factors like poverty, education, and housing – play a major role in determining our overall health and wellbeing. And yet, these factors are often overlooked in our obsession with individual health metrics. By taking a more contextual approach to health, we can begin to see the ways in which our individual health is connected to the broader social and environmental context in which we live.
Rethinking the Notion of ‘Health’
Ultimately, the problem with health tracking technology is not the technology itself, but the way we think about health. We tend to see health as a kind of individual achievement, a personal goal that we can strive for and attain through hard work and dedication. But what if we were to rethink this notion of health, to see it not as a personal achievement but as a fundamental human right? What if we were to recognize that health is not just a matter of individual choice and responsibility, but also of social and environmental justice?
As the World Health Organization notes, ‘health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’ This definition highlights the complexity and multifaceted nature of health, and challenges us to think more broadly about what it means to be healthy. By rethinking the notion of health in this way, we can begin to move beyond the narrow and individualistic focus of health tracking technology, and towards a more nuanced and contextual understanding of what it means to be well.
As we move forward in this era of wellness obsession, it’s time to take a step back and ask ourselves what we’re really trying to achieve. Is it just a number on the scale, or a certain fitness level? Or is it something deeper and more meaningful – a sense of connection to our bodies, our communities, and the world around us? The answer, I think, is clear – and it’s time for us to start prioritizing our health, rather than just our health metrics.
