Smartwatches, fitness apps fuel wellness boom, but are Filipinos getting healthier?

From smartwatches counting daily steps to mobile applications monitoring sleep, nutrition and exercise, technology is making personal health easier to track. But as more Filipinos embrace digital wellness, a bigger question is emerging: Are these tools translating into healthier lives?

Findings from Herbalife’s Asia Pacific Wellness Culture Survey 2026 suggest that growing interest in wellness has not been accompanied by universal improvements in self-reported health.

The survey found that 76 percent of Filipino respondents now participate in a wider variety of wellness activities, while 74 percent engage in them more frequently than three years ago.

However, only 58 percent reported improvements in physical health, 61 percent in mental health and 59 percent in emotional well-being.

The findings highlight a challenge facing the digital wellness industry: Technology can help people monitor their habits, but sustaining behavioral changes requires more than collecting health data.

Beyond tracking steps

Smartwatches and fitness applications increasingly allow users to monitor heart rates, physical activity, sleep patterns and calorie consumption.

These tools can provide immediate feedback and encourage users to become more aware of their daily routines.

A 2026 review published in Physiological Reviews, covering 39 systematic reviews and 98 original studies, found that interventions incorporating wearable activity trackers generally increased physical activity.

However, evidence of improvements in cardiovascular risk markers, quality of life and mental health remained inconsistent.

Another 2026 review, published in The Lancet Digital Health, found that health applications could improve several outcomes, including physical activity, blood pressure, weight management and mental well-being.

Importantly, the researchers identified tracking, education and interaction with healthcare professionals or communities as features contributing to effectiveness.

The research suggests that digital health tools can help users develop healthier behaviors, particularly when monitoring is paired with guidance and sustained support.

The Philippines’ wellness gap

Herbalife Philippines general manager Kinki Lau said growing wellness awareness must be matched by accessible guidance and motivation.

“We’re seeing a significant shift in how Filipinos approach wellness, with more people taking a proactive role in pursuing their health goals. However, intention alone is not enough to sustain this momentum. We must recognize the wellness gap and address the need for proper guidance, sustained motivation, and accessible wellness education,” Lau said.

The company’s survey also found that 73 percent of Filipino respondents wanted more support for physical health, while 55 percent sought additional mental health support and 50 percent wanted help with emotional well-being.

This demand could create opportunities for digital wellness platforms that combine fitness tracking with personalized guidance, online communities and social interaction.

Running clubs, group exercise programs and digital fitness communities are also emerging as ways for people to turn individual health goals into shared activities.