These apps aren’t inherently bad, but as eating disorders have steadily risen around the world in the last two decades it’s also become clear that using these apps can sometimes cause more harm than good
Photo: Getty Images One of the first apps I ever downloaded to my first iPhone was MyFitnessPal. It marketed itself as “the best weight loss and fitness app” out there. I was 17 and had been an avid calorie counter before. But this time, I became obsessed.
These apps aren’t inherently bad — there are some who swear by them and use them in a healthy, beneficial way. But as eating disorders have steadily risen around the world in the last two decades — and dramatically increased during the pandemic, especially among teen girls — it’s also become clear that using these apps can sometimes cause more harm than good.
Even after quitting MyFitnessPal, I still found myself writing down numbers in the corners of notebooks and napkins. At 18, I entered recovery for my eating disorder for the first time. Eventually, I enrolled in an online-only intensive outpatient program, where my nutritionist suggested I try out an app called Recovery Record.
Recovery Record This diary app aims to mend an unhealthy relationship with food by prompting users to record what they eat in photos and written responses. Not only do you log what you ate, but you also log where you ate it, who you were with, what you were doing, and anything else that could affect your mood. Recovery Record has the built-in bonus of being able to add a doctor or nutritionist to your account, to help see your logged entries or encourage healthier behaviors.
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