ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2026
Anticipating the Impact of AI on Diet and Exercise Apps: Foresight Study Applying the Futures Wheel.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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6 authors.
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Abstract
Unlabelled: AI has entered the wellness space through apps and wearables. These technologies can collect real-time data, infer lifestyle patterns, and dynamically generate nutrition and exercise recommendations. Generative AI personalizes diet and activity information, encouraging behavior change. The objective of this Viewpoint is to explore the potential medium-term consequences of AI integration in diet and exercise apps from an end-user perspective. We applied a foresight methodology-the Futures Wheel (FW)-and defined its central trend as the growing integration of AI into consumer wellness platforms. The analysis outlines seven first-order consequences: (1) personalization of nutrition and fitness plans, (2) 24/7 health coaching, (3) integration with smart technology, (4) increased privacy and surveillance concerns, (5) data-driven risk profiling and moral hazard, (6) incorporation into organizational processes, and (7) acceleration of health inequalities driven by the digital divide. Second-order consequences included potential improvements in health outcomes and health literacy, as well as risks of privacy erosion, algorithmic bias, behavior-linked underwriting models, deskilling of health and fitness professionals, and shifts in food and exercise culture toward more individualized, and potentially isolating practices. Cross-cutting patterns highlighted recurring trade-offs between personalization and surveillance, scalability and user agency, and optimization and equity. Wellness practice will expand along with AI's ability to personalize recommendations, automate behaviors, and engage users. AI wellness popularization is promising for chronic disease prevention and health optimization. The FW reveals that the depth of adaptation will be determined by the implementation of changes at the levels of technology, user behavior, infrastructure, and legal and ethical frameworks.
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