From CGM to AI: How Technology is Reshaping the Wellness Industry
One of the most exciting elements of cutting-edge technology is its influence on the fitness and wellness industry. Whether helping a business attract and retain new clients or giving consumers a premium, hyper-personalized experience, the latest innovations have arrived at a time when health and longevity are top of mind.
Here is what some fitness and wellness leaders have achieved or are currently focusing on in the wearables, artificial intelligence, and tech solutions space.
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Wearables
Once reserved for those with diabetes, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices have become the latest tool for biohackers and wellness enthusiasts interested in discovering the precise correlation between lifestyle and health.
This month, Dexcom Stelo became the first over-the-counter glucose biosensor in the U.S. available to consumers without a prescription. The small biosensor, worn on the back of the upper arm, is designed for those with Type 2 diabetes who don’t use insulin and those with prediabetes and sends personalized glucose insights to a user’s smartphone.
Dexcom says the device can potentially slow the progression of diabetes by empowering users to make behavior modifications through its spike and pattern detection and can also positively impact those who use weight loss medication.
“In a world where GLP-1 use is becoming increasingly more common, glucose biosensors like Stelo can help make those medications more effective,” noted Thomas Grace, MD, head of clinical advocacy and outcomes at Dexcom.
Boston-based Whoop is entering new markets this year to bring its human performance wearable to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but on the end-user side, it’s committed to supporting women’s health.
It’s a critical area of overall wellness that remains largely unrepresented, Whoop CEO Will Ahmed told Athletech News.
“Particularly how women’s bodies adjust during various stages of their life – menstruation, pre- and postpartum, and perimenopause,” he pointed out. “Subsequently, females don’t receive adequate, science-backed information to support them during such critical times.”
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Whoop offers users a unique Menstrual Cycle Insights feature, providing training and sleep recommendations based on a woman’s cycle. Earlier this year, the human performance company published a study in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed academic journal, analyzing the physiological data of pregnancies. The study identified key trends in maternal heart rate variability (HRV) inversion in singleton pregnancies, which could help predict delivery dates for premature and full-term pregnancies. Such data is more than just helpful information, Ahmed said.
“Understanding this change in HRV has the potential to save lives, reduce medical costs and provide more insight to expecting parents,” he explained.
Similarly, Oura is also invested in women’s health and has partnered with several companies (such as Natural Cycles and Flo) to increase the accessibility of health information for women.
The smart ring maker has introduced new features — Cycle Insights and Pregnancy Insights — to give users insightful information on their health. And it’s just the beginning, Oura CEO Tom Hale told ATN.
“As we continue to innovate and expand our offerings, we remain dedicated to providing women with the ultimate body literacy tool to support their health and well-being at every stage of life,” he said.
Credit: Technogym
AI
From fitness to nutrition, AI is everywhere.
In terms of fitness equipment, Technogym, the Italian fitness technology company, is at the forefront of the AI revolution. The company, founded by Nerio Alessandri, has created an AI-based end-to-end open platform that has revolutionized fitness for users and operators.
Two of Technogym’s latest products – the Technogym Checkup and Technogym Coach – address longevity with a personalized approach. Technogym Checkup assesses physical and cognitive conditions and provides a “Wellness Age” based on the current state of well-being, while the Coach feature offers a personalized training prescription.
The transformative promises of AI have also caught the attention of Life Time. The luxury athletic country club operator recently partnered with Microsoft to launch L.AI.C, an AI-powered companion for its members. Although the initial rollout will perform basic tasks, such as answering inquiries about club hours and offerings, Life Time CEO Bahram Akradi sees more significant advancements on the horizon that will set his clubs apart.
“From personalized, proactive suggestions and reminders to virtually unlimited opportunities to support our members’ unique needs and preferences, L.AI.C will further extend our brand as the trusted, go-to health and wellness partner for a lifetime,” Akradi said. “The best is yet to come.”
Tech Solutions
While current innovations certainly enhance the experience for fitness consumers, operators and fitness professionals have an abundance of choices when it comes to tech solutions.
Amalgama, a digital innovation consultancy company, helps fitness brands grow and enhance the user experience. The team of sports enthusiasts and former professionals know the industry well, understanding that digital solutions need to target comprehensive well-being while using data analytics that inform strategies.
Fit tech company ABC Fitness also continues supporting fitness operators, having partnered with data science and AI supplier DXFactor. The collaboration brings new offerings to the ABC Ignite mobile platform that will generate bespoke member experiences and integrations.
“This partnership promises to be a cornerstone for the fitness industry, offering a blend of DXFactor’s transformative digital strategies and ABC Fitness’s technological prowess,” said Al Noshirvani, managing partner at Alta Technologies and board member at DXFactor. “Customers can now anticipate a comprehensive digital transformation tailored to meet fitness enthusiasts’ and enterprises’ modern demands.”
