A research study by IIIT Hyderabad has revealed that young Indians do not blindly follow fitness apps. Instead, they actively negotiate with these applications by altering targets to accommodate extra sweets during festivals and family meals, as well as adjusting workouts on humid days.
Key Findings of the Study
The study, presented at CHI 2026, emphasizes that this adjustment is not a sign of laziness but a rational response to tools designed for a different cultural context. Professor Nimmi Rangaswamy, who led the research at IIIT Hyderabad, explained that many participants chose to go offline and manually track their fitness using spreadsheets or by texting friends. This was because global fitness apps often fail to understand the complexities of Asian culture, including food combinations, lunar calendars, and season-associated foods.
Cultural Complexities in Fitness Tracking
The research outlined that most global fitness apps struggled to interpret common Indian dietary combinations such as dal and roti, the variable use of ghee, late family dinners, and the impact of heat and humidity on physical activity. According to Prof. Rangaswamy, these apps are typically built in Silicon Valley but serve one-fourth of the world's population that follows Asian culture.
Expert Advice on App Usage
Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a consultant neurologist and public health advocate at a private hospital in Hyderabad, stressed the importance of adapting fitness tools rather than relying on them completely. He noted that many of his patients complained that fitness apps felt out of sync with their real lives. Dr. Kumar advised treating app data as a guide rather than a dictator of food habits.
He recommended focusing on weekly trends rather than daily numbers, and paying attention to basics such as steps, activity, protein intake, and sleep. Combining this data with body signals like energy, hunger, and recovery can lead to more sustainable health practices. He warned that rigidly chasing targets could result in burnout or guilt.
Call for Context-Driven Design
The authors of the study highlighted the need for more context-sensitive design in fitness applications. Prof. Rangaswamy acknowledged that while apps cannot be designed purely based on Indian habits, developers should strive to be more aware of cultural nuances. The study encourages a balanced approach that respects cultural diversity while leveraging technology for health improvement.
