UK Government to pilot new app which promotes healthy habits

The government is launching a pilot of an app which will see users wear wrist-worn devices to generate personalised health recommendations and award points to motivate healthier habits.

Launching in January 2022, the app has been designed to encourage people to make positive changes to their lifestyle; such as eating more fruit and vegetables or increasing their step count.

The contract to develop a new app was awarded to HeadUp Systems and the Department of Health and Social Care is investing £3million in funding to fund the reward system. Users will be awarded points for healthy behaviours which can be exchanged for rewards such as gym passes, clothes or food vouchers, or cinema or theme park tickets.

Sajid Javid, health and social care secretary, said: “I want to ensure we’re doing as much as we can to tackle health disparities across the country, and this new pilot will pave the way for developing innovate ways to improve the lives of individuals, and also help to reduce strain on the NHS.