When it comes to iTunes health apps, cardio is king
If you're a fan of health and fitness apps for your iPhone, now you've got more than ever to choose from, according to a new report, with cardio fitness and diet apps taking the largest piece of the pie.
Already by April, consumers could download more than 13,600 health apps from the US App Store, states MobiHealthNews, which released its 2012 analysis of consumer health apps for Apple's iPhone last week.
Last December, MobiHealthNnews predicted the number of health apps to reach 13,000 by July, but "that happened at least three months ahead of schedule," according to the report.
In terms of categories, 16.2 percent of apps are cardio fitness apps, while 14.1 percent account for diet apps, as of April. Another 10.4 percent of the apps are devoted to stress and relaxation, while 8.1 percent are for strength training. Other top categories: women's health (7.1 percent), mental health (5.4 percent), and chronic conditions (5.3 percent).
"This unexpected acceleration in the number of consumer health apps does bring more meaningful app choices for patients, but it also exacerbates the discoverability issue," writes MobiHealthNews. Certification platforms like Happtique, notes the site, can help the medical community determine which of the tens of thousands of health apps available are clinically sound.
Another trend cited in the report is a drop in the price of consumer health apps. In August 2010, the average price of all consumer health apps (including both paid and free apps) was $2.34. As of April 2012, the price had dropped to $2.05.
