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Report
en_GB
Consumers are the CEOs of their own health, with tools like smartwatches and health apps giving users detailed metrics, empowering them to take control and make informed decisions. However, older…
Global
Technology
Health and Wellbeing
simple
UK Future of Health Technology Report 2025
"More investment in technology to support women's health is needed, particularly addressing the menopause and other age-related changes."
Consumers are the CEOs of their own health, with tools like smartwatches and health apps giving users detailed metrics, empowering them to take control and make informed decisions. However, older women, who are most likely to want to improve their weight, are also most likely to express dissatisfaction with health apps. This highlights the lack of investment and recognition of women’s unique health needs, such as menopause and age-related changes. Brands need to prioritise women’s health by developing apps or devices to track menopausal symptoms and offer personalised solutions for weight management.
Social media is the go-to source for young people searching for health-related information. However, it is flooded with misinformation, which can lead to harmful outcomes. Brands can build trust in their products by creating content that directly calls out and debunks false claims, and highlights evidence-based product solutions.
Few consumers are interested in using an AI therapist. Sharing struggles with a ‘machine’ and lack of human connection may feel too impersonal. Instead, tools that are not purposely built for therapy, such as ChatGPT and Character.ai, have unintentionally become a space for mental health support. For consumers to adopt AI therapy tools, brands will need to build an entertainment-first platform that resonates with more informal ways of communicating and self-expression.
Key Issues Covered in the Report
How exercise apps dominate health app usage trends, while wellbeing information apps are popular among women
Sources of health-related information, with social media being the main source of information for younger age groups
Top three aspects of health consumers want to improve, such as physical fitness, sleep quality and mental health
Interest in AI innovations in health technology, including how stress management can be a gateway into broader adoption of AI features to address other emotions and mental states
Effectiveness of health apps to significantly improve health, and why older women are least satisfied
Attitudes towards health data including security and willingness to share or sell personal data
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Opportunities for the health technology market
Stress management will advance AI adoption for mental wellbeing
Make AI therapy an entertainment platform first
Build platforms for consumers to manage and sell their health data
Market dynamics and outlook
Exercise is the main form of weight management
Graph 1: weight management in the last 12 months and interest in using in the future, 2024
Interest in weight-loss drugs will shift focus to weight training and nutrient intake
What consumers want and why
Brands must tackle health misinformation on social media to earn trust
Graph 2: sources used to get health-related information in the last 12 months, 2025
Support weight challenges for women during menopause
Health apps fail to help older women’s health
Graph 3: agreement with ‘using health apps has not significantly improved my overall health’, by gender and age, 2025
Shape brand messaging around physical fitness
Graph 4: top three aspects of health consumers would like to improve, 2025
Consumers want a personalised AI trainer
Consumers want more predictive health analysis
Graph 5: interest in AI predictive health-care analysis to improve health, by age, 2025
Interest in glucose tracking is gaining popularity, but may lead to harmful dietary changes
Graph 6: attitudes towards health technology, 2025
Innovation and marketing
New app makes you walk to access social media
Saliva-based hormone test for home use
MARKET DYNAMICS
Market drivers
NHS to focus on prevention in healthcare
Exercise is the main form of weight management…
Graph 7: weight management methods used in the last 12 months, 2024
…but use of prescription weight-loss drugs could grow…
…as young people are most interested in weight-loss drugs
Graph 8: interest in using injectable weight-loss drugs, 2024
Health tracking is still a popular interest in future weight management
Graph 9: weight management in the last 12 months and interest in using in the future, 2024
High-protein food is more important than low-calorie options
Graph 10: high protein content as a top three most important factor when shopping for food, by age, 2019-25
WHAT CONSUMERS WANT AND WHY
Health app usage
Majority of consumers use health apps
Exercise and wellbeing information apps are the most used health apps
Graph 11: health app usage in the last 12 months, 2025
Exercise apps will continue to grow and evolve into AI personal trainers
Continuous glucose monitoring will increase the usage of diet and nutrition apps
Social media and AI chatbots will reduce the need for wellbeing information apps
Build communities in wellbeing apps to remain competitive
Graph 12: agreement with ‘I think online communities are just as valuable as real-life ones’, 2025
The gap between metrics and health advice in smartwatches…
…will see more people using specialised apps to manage their health
Graph 13: health app usage in the last 12 months, 2022-25
Young women are the main users of wellbeing information apps
Graph 14: usage of wellbeing information apps, by gender and age, 2025
Sources of health-related information
Social media is the go-to source for health-related information for younger people
Brands must tackle health misinformation on social media to earn trust
Public health websites, medical professionals and online searches remain key sources for majority of people
Graph 15: sources used to get health-related information in the last 12 months, 2025
Brands need to verify their content on search engines
Graph 16: sources used to get health-related information in the last 12 months, by generation, 2025
Word of mouth influences young people’s health
Graph 17: use friends/family for health-related information, by age, 2025
Use of AI chatbots for health is low, but interest for AI features to improve health is high
Graph 18: used AI chatbot for health-related information in the last 12 months, 2025
Health priorities
Vast majority of Brits want to improve their health
Consumers want to improve their physical fitness
Graph 19: top three aspects of health consumers would like to improve, 2025
Appeal to consumers’ aspirations to feel strong
Build technology to support women’s weight during menopause
Graph 20: proportion of consumers who want to improve their weight, by gender and age, 2025
Develop skincare health metrics
AI innovations in health technology
AI exercise advice can be the friendly alternative to ‘intimidating’ gyms
Graph 21: interest in AI innovations to improve health, 2025
Consumers want more predictive health analysis
Graph 22: interest in AI predictive health-care analysis to improve health, by age, 2025
Partner with healthcare providers to strengthen AI credibility
Graph 23: interest in AI healthcare to improve health, by age, 2025
Blur the lines between entertainment and mental wellbeing
Develop AI-driven self-care solutions
Stress management can drive AI adoption for mental wellbeing
Use diet and nutrition as a predictive health tool
Trust and privacy in health data
Consumers are divided when it comes to trusting AI for health advice
Graph 24: trust in AI health advice, 2025
Address AI ageism in health tech to boost interest among older consumers…
Graph 25: interest in AI innovations to improve health, by age, 2025
…by prioritising inclusive design and datasets
Health data security will be a key focus
Graph 26: trust and privacy in health data, 2025
Privacy will be a competitive advantage
Young consumers are open to sharing health data when there is a clear benefit
Graph 27: agreement with ‘I think it’s worth giving my health data for improved products/services’, by age, 2025
Consumers want to sell their health data
Selling data is the future
Accuracy and effectiveness of health technology
Visualise future health outcomes to motivate people towards their goals
Graph 28: agreement with ‘using health apps has significantly improved my overall health’, by age, 2025
Older women are most likely to express dissatisfaction with health apps
Prioritise weight and sleep personalisation to engage older women with health technology
Communicate the accuracy of health tracking devices to build trust
Graph 29: agreement with ‘I think health-tracking devices are just as clinically accurate as a medical device’, by generation, 2025
Usability and practicality of health technology
AI health optimisation feels unreachable to live up to
Graph 30: usability and practicality of health technology, 2025
Use small AI health recommendations in marketing to reassure concerns
Graph 31: agreement with ‘I worry that AI health recommendations might be too difficult to implement in my daily life’, by age, 2025
Affordability will drive future purchases in health technology
Refurbished and second-hand market will grow
Interest in health technology innovations
People want more control over their glucose
Glucose monitoring will change dietary choices
Non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring will become more accessible
Mental health treatment will use more VR tools
Building coping skills through VR experiences
INNOVATION AND MARKETING TRENDS
Launch activity and innovation
New app makes you walk to access social media
Saliva-based hormone test for home use
AI supports therapists to be more present in therapy sessions
Smart hearing aid translates languages in real-time
Less intrusive sleep tracking technology makes sleep more comfortable
APPENDIX
Report scope and definitions
Market definition
Abbreviations and terms
Consumer research methodology
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