16 Weight Loss Apps That Actually Work
There are hundreds of crappy diet and fitness tools out there. Here are the good ones.
"THERE'S AN APP for that" takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to weight loss.
You can find an app to do just about anything for you, like track your food, offer mental health help, and even find restaurants with healthy options. But unfortunately, there's no shortage of health misinformation out there. Which means many of these apps are bogus. They tend to promise you a lot and end up giving you very little. And when it comes to your health, you don't have time to waste on the bad ones to find the good. So we found them for you.
Weight loss is all about daily habits, and apps can be a great way to make sure you stay on top of those habits. For example, a 2019 paper published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth found that people who tracked their food daily using My Fitness Pal lost the most weight compared to those who used the app less diligently. Researchers found the combination of using a food diary and developing tailored goals were key in helping people lose weight.
“We have very strong evidence that consistent tracking—particularly of diet, but also one’s weight—is an essential element of successful weight loss,” study co-author Gary Bennett, a psychology professor at Duke University, explained to Futurity. “Consumers should look for apps that make it easy for them to track on a consistent basis.”
We’ve put together a list of the best weight loss apps on the market. They’ll help you hit your nutrition goals, get the most out of your workouts, and even keep you hydrated. However, people with a history of disordered eating may be triggered by counting calories or macronutrients. If you have experience disordered eating habits, it’s best to work with a registered dietitian to find a plan that works for you.
MyFitnessPal
It doesn't matter what diet you're on, or what specific approach you're taking to losing weight: At the end of the day, success comes down to calories in vs. calories out. That's why we're such big fans of the MyFitnessPal app, which has a database of more than 1 million foods, complete with counts on calories, macros, and other nutrients. Don't know how many calories are in that turkey burger? MyFitnessPal can help you out. Plus, it can help you set the right weight loss goals based on your current weight, how much you want to lose, and your current exercise level.
(free for iOS and Android, on the App Store and Google Play)
Sworkit
It's a one-stop shop for all the no-gym workouts out need to help you power the fitness side of your weight loss journey. There are bodyweight workouts, cardio workouts, yoga, and even stretching. There's a timer, a tracker, and even the option to connect one-on-one to a personal trainer.
(free for iOS and Android, on the App Store and Google Play)
Waterlogged
Yeah, yeah, we all know the ’ol check-your-pee-color-to-see-if-you’re-hydrated test. But this app makes hitting your hydration goals (which are linked to your energy levels, workout capacity, and hunger levels) much easier, not to mention less gross.
“The Waterlogged app allows me to set reminders for myself at scheduled or random intervals to drink more water and keeps track of how well I am meeting my daily drinking goals,” says Jim White, R.D., owner of Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios in Virginia. “I try to shoot for drinking half of my body weight in ounces of water per day.”
(free for iOS and Android, on the App Store and Google Play)
Talkspace
When it comes to losing weight, diet and exercise are crucial, but to have any success, you can’t discount the importance of mental health, says Georgie Fear, R.D., author of Lean Habits for Lifelong Weight Loss. For her clients who struggle with emotional or binge eating, Fear recommends Talkspace, which gives you access to professional counseling anywhere, anytime. Message your therapist 24/7 via text, voice, video.
(plans start at $32 per week, on the App Store and Google Play)
Runkeeper
Runkeeper offers tailored training programs based on your current fitness level and personal goals. It offers a look at your performance over time and syncs with fitness trackers like Garmin and Apple Watch.
(download is free, but premium services cost $39.99 annually)
Happy Scale
When you step on the scale, the number is a reflection of not just your true weight, but also your hormonal fluctuations and poop habits. “Happy Scale takes the fluctuations out of weight measurements and makes for a smooth curve, so guys are better able to gauge their true progress,” says board-certified family and bariatric physician Spencer Nadolsky, D.O., a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. The app will even predict what you’ll weigh in the future if you keep up your current habits.
(free for iOS, on the App store)
BioForce HRV
Your heart rate variability—a.k.a., the fluctuations in the amount of time between each heartbeat—is a marker of your body’s current stress levels and exercise recovery status. Too much fluctuation is a sign of fatigue, and BioForce HRV uses these measurements to determine how hard you should work out. “I've used this for years,” says Mike Roussell, Ph.D. “It allows me to know how long and hard I should train that day based on the state of my nervous system.”
(free for iOS and Android, though use requires purchase of $194 BioForce HRV sensor, on the App Store and Google Play)
Fooducate
Many foods, such as protein bars or frozen dinners, masquerade as healthy options, even though they're actually anything but. Fooducate makes it easy to determine whether those quinoa crackers are actually healthier than a bag of chips. Its database of more than 250,000 items allows you to scan any food UPC label using your smartphone’s camera. It'll then give the product a letter grade, along with an explanation for why it is or isn’t healthy. The app will even provide a list of healthier options that are similar to the product you’re eyeing.
(free for iOS and Android, on the App Store and Google Play)
Healthy Out
It can be tough for dieters to find healthy options when they're dining out. Using GPS technology, HealthyOut will compile a list restaurants in your area, along with recommended menu items for the health-conscious. It'll also provide additional tips for how to make the dish healthier, such as leaving croutons off a salad.
(free for iOS on the App Store)
Yummly
Deciding what to eat for dinner after a long day at work can be annoying for anyone. But factor in dietary restrictions, and meal time can become downright stressful. With Yummly, you can enter your dietary preferences (such as Paleo or Keto), favorite cuisines, and your cooking abilities to generate a list of recipes that will suit your taste buds and lifestyle preferences. You can also create shopping lists from your favorite recipes, so you'll never forget to buy anything at the grocery store.
(free for iOS and Android, on the App Store and Google Play)
Done
Struggling to kick that late night snacking? Just can’t seem to wake up for those early am workouts? Letting go of bad habits is hard, and adopting healthy ones can seem brutal. Done aims to make both easier. Set goals, track your activity and progress, and set reminders to stay motivated throughout the day.
(free basic version for iOS on the App Store)
YouAte
Think of this app as a mashup of traditional food diaries, like MyFitnessPal, and instagram. Instead of weighing and logging food from the database, users upload photos of meals. YouAte stresses mindful eating, so you can record emotions to determine if stress led you to eating those afternoon donuts.
(free basic version for iOS and Android, on the App Store and Google Play)
KetoDiet
The KetoDiet app is a great resource for those following the high-fat diet. You’ll find recipes; food and body weight tracking; and a keto starter guide. There’s even a calculator to determine how much fat, protein, and carbs you should eat to stay in ketosis, or fat burning mode.
(available for iOS and Android. $8.99 on the App Store and Google Play).
Lose It!
Lose It! is the sleeker younger sibling of MyFitnessPal. The experience is very user-friendly, with cool features like finding restaurant listings by using your location. This app is also super tailored to weight-loss as a goal, and has community groups you can join to help keep you accountable.
(available for iOS and Android. $8.99 on the App Store and Google Play).
Headspace
Headspace has paved the popularity of mindfulness and self-care. This app is a one-stop-shop for all things meditation. It has several different kinds of mindfulness workshops to work on everything from grief to mental health. And since mental health plays such a big role in weight loss, this can be a great app to have on hand.
(free basic version for iOS and Android on the App Store and Google Play)
Couch to 5K
If you're a couch potato looking to get into running, Couch to 5K is the aptly named app for you. This app creates a running training program for you dependent on where you're starting and how far you want to go. They have training programs for 10Ks and marathons. It's very easy to follow along, and makes running feel like a breeze.
(free basic version for iOS and Android on the App Store and Google Play)
Cori Ritchey, NASM-CPT is an Associate Health & Fitness Editor at Men's Health and a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. You can find more of her work in HealthCentral, Livestrong, Self, and others.
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