Newer and more advanced technology such as fitness wearables, artificial intelligence software and robotics is reducing employee well-being, according to a new briefing paper from the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW).

The preliminary research may be a wake-up call to the countless businesses that have embraced artificial intelligence and automation technology to reduce labor costs and advance their bottom line; it could also have ramifications for the makers of fitness wearables like watches, rings and bands.

Using data from an online survey of over 6,000 workers in the United Kingdom, IFOW discovered that while digital information and communication technologies correlated with improved quality of life, extensive exposure to newer technologies can be detrimental to well-being.

One key survey finding is that frequent engagement with AI software, robotics and wearables (defined as fitness trackers, smartwatches, smart glasses, GPS devices and other data-gathering sensors) “exhibited a negative relationship with quality of life,” with even moderate exposure to robotics revealing an adverse effect on quality of life.

Start of the Conversation

IFOW’s findings highlight an important area that has yet to be fully explored in the current tech-forward age, but ultimately the paper encourages employers to understand the need to roll out technology that actively engages workers and to conduct “rigorous monitoring of risks and impacts.”

“The findings of this working paper – coupled with the current rapid pace of adoption of workplace automation technologies – emphasize that this work should be a priority if this technological transformation is to deliver a future where innovation and well-being advance together,” the authors wrote.

As the paper’s authors also point out, all hope is not lost in an overly connected world that will continue to lean toward tech. Instead, the findings “underscore the importance of a proactive, human-centered approach to technology deployment, emphasizing the value of worker consultation and participation rights, clarification of purposes and balanced consideration of technological benefits and risks.”

The authors also state that the need for additional research is evident, especially when understanding the different impacts of technology by sector and its overall impact on the intersection of well-being with productivity and worker retention. 

A Case for Corporate Wellness Platforms

In addition to prompting the start of a meaningful conversation, the survey’s findings are interesting, especially when juxtaposed against the rise of corporate wellness programs. 

Not everyone is sold on such employer-focused programs, as one Oxford researcher recently illustrated in a controversial take, but IFOW’s initial results on the topic are likely good news for platforms that are encouraging employers to invest in well-being programs for their staff. 

Corporate wellness giant Gympass has soared to a $2.4 billion valuation and continues to add to its robust line-up of wellness offerings, recently expanding its sleep category this month with snooze-supporting apps Rise Science and SleepScore. According to Gympass research, 98% of employees worldwide report sleep is crucial for their well-being, and 60% say work stress negatively impacts their sleep.

Global healthy eating platform Lifesum, tapped to support staff employed by tech titans Amazon and PayPal, recently revealed an eye-opening statistic: that nearly 71% of stressed-out Gen Z and Millennials would quit their jobs tomorrow in favor of one that better supports their overall well-being and that almost 70% would be more productive if their employer improved their well-being. 

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The key to engaged, productive Gen Z and Millennial employees is an investment in well-being, finds Lifesum, a global healthy eating platform used by Amazon, GE and PayPal.

At the core of Lifesum’s recent 2024 State of Healthy Eating and Well-being report is an eye-opening statistic that nearly 71% of Gen Z and Millennials would quit their job tomorrow in favor of one that better supports their overall well-being. The report also highlights the projected trends stemming from the desires of the most coveted consumers. 

The healthy eating platform surveyed 10,000 Gen Z and Millennials, finding that 69% would be more productive if their employer improved their well-being. Meanwhile, 31% would even consider a pay cut in exchange for a happier and healthier work environment, showing just how invested young workers are in their well-being.

Markus Falk, Lifesum CEO, says the report is a “wake-up call” for employers who need to grasp the needs of Gen Z and Millennials, who he says are redefining company loyalty by prioritizing personal well-being in career choices. 

“The report underscores how a nutrition-first approach can foster long-term well-being, benefiting mental, physical and emotional health,” Falk said. “This, in turn, enhances workplace productivity and satisfaction.” 

An accurate picture of overwhelmed Gen Z and Millennials has continued to materialize, as seen by the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Stress in America findings. The report sounds the alarm that younger populations are not only plagued with stress but demonstrate higher stress levels than the generations before them. Experts say inflation, isolation and difficulty accessing health care are all contributing factors.

With numerous stressors swirling around in the minds of Gen Z and Millennial workers, Lifesum points out that employers can assist staff in resiliency-supporting corporate wellness offerings that benefit staff but also reduce absenteeism, boost productivity and increase a company’s bottom line.

Lifesum’s 2024 State of Healthy Eating and Well-being report dived into factors that the platform says create a fulfilling work experience, such as health and wellness goals, mental health and sleep.

Here are the findings:

Young Consumers Snack Their Way to Wellness  

Gen Z and Millennials ranked their top three health and wellness goals with physical fitness leading the charge (88%), followed by mental health and stress management (71%) and then sleep quality (54%).

Lifesum found that workplace stress is deemed a “critical concern” for young workers, with 75% willing to cut ties with their employer over a toxic working environment. 

The report also highlighted emerging trends in the health and wellness space, with functional foods resonating with Gen Z and Millennials, 73% of whom eat for “enhanced energy,” while 61% are looking for improved mental health. Lifesum found that 40% eat their way to more restful sleep, noting that “snackable supplements” that incorporate valuable vitamins and protein are popular with younger consumers.  

Lifesum projects that this year will see a rise in stress-relieving adaptogenic foods, such as mushroom latte powders, and sleep-inducing foods with melatonin and magnesium.

Target has also ramped up its shelves and ecommerce site with over a thousand wellness-supporting products at cost-conscious price points across skincare, supplements, functional beverages, vitamins and more — seemingly to prepare for wellness-seeking young consumers.

The Intersection of Sleep & Nourishment 

As stress plays a significant role in eating habits and sleep quality, it makes sense that Gen Z and Millennials are looking to improve on all ends — and are aware of the connection between sleep and nutrition. With one in three Americans not getting enough sleep, Mindbody predicted that sleep hygiene will be a top trend for 2024 — a finding supported by Lifesum. 

Lifesum’s report found that 50% of respondents say their dietary decisions are essential to their energy levels during the day, while 83% seriously contemplate modifying their eating habits in exchange for a more restful sleep.

Based on those findings, Lifesum predicts that there will be a rise in foods rich in sleep-inducing nutrients and tech-based solutions such as its sleep tracking feature with Oura, which gives users a behind-the-scenes look into how diet impacts sleep patterns (and vice versa).

“Gen Z and Millennials deeply value the intersection of sleep and nutrition,” Falk said. “Corporate wellness programs will increasingly acknowledge how sleep and nutrition impact productivity and overall well-being, which will lead to a comprehensive strategy that optimizes a healthy work-life balance.”

Drivers of the Longevity Boom

The growing awareness of longevity modalities may have wellness seekers rushing to book IV drips, saunas and cold plunges. Still, Gen Z and Millennials are already ahead of the game, with 51% of survey respondents sharing that they are actively engaged in longevity and well-being practices. Moreover, 56% consider taking “immediate action” to enhance longevity. 

Such data is a solid foundation for a rise in personalized nutrition programs, sustainable and mindful eating habits and mental health programs, according to Lifesum. 

“Organizational culture plays a pivotal role in shaping employee well-being and workplace outcomes,” Falk said. “The report underscores how Gen Z and Millennials use nutrition to promote overall wellness across various aspects of their lives. This will have a knock-on effect for employers and pave the way for nutrition-first corporate wellness strategies that optimize employee health and productivity.”

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Employers who are investing in corporate wellness programs could use their resources in a more productive and meaningful way, according to new research based on a University of Oxford study.

The study, authored by William J. Fleming, a researcher on work and well-being, illustrates that while mental well-being initiatives are widely recommended for British workers, disagreement is brewing over concerns that “individual-level interventions” don’t engage with working conditions.

Although supportive wellness programs have become a buzzy, feel-good ad campaign for employers to showcase across social media, individual-led wellness programs can’t fundamentally address or, better yet, fix an unhealthy and stressful working environment, the study suggests.

Using a survey of 46,000-plus workers in over 230 organizations, Fleming reviewed the outcomes of participants with access to resilience training, mindfulness and well-being apps and those without, finding that participants appeared “no better off” than non-participants. 

“Overall, results suggest interventions are not providing additional or appropriate resources in response to job demands,” found Fleming.

What the Study Could Mean

Despite the grim findings, employee volunteering opportunities pose a glimmer of hope — although Fleming acknowledges the estimated effects are minimal.

He also notes that future research should pinpoint if individual-led interventions are effective alongside organizational change or whether improving working conditions would be a better alternative. 

“A combination of approaches could benefit workers by, if implemented well, enhancing job resources whilst also mitigating job demands,” he wrote.

Ultimately, Fleming says it seems “premature” to recommend widespread individual-led interventions to all workers and that organizational-led interventions (changes to scheduling, management practices, staff resources, performance review) appear “more beneficial” for improving well-being. 

In a post on LinkedIn, Fleming summed up the breadth of his research quite succinctly: “We’ve got to focus on improving work, not addressing well-being individually and in isolation.”

It should be noted that Fleming didn’t discredit the effectiveness of health and well-being apps and programs — but they can’t course-correct the challenges that many employees face within their organization, he said. A nutrition and sleep-tracking app may have benefits but can’t solve the stress of working long hours or counteract issues stemming from poor management, for example.

Corporate Wellness Is Still Hot

Setting aside the recent research from Oxford, one can argue that the overarching issue is that workplace stress and dissatisfaction are at an all-time high, especially as many employers are warning of layoffs and, in recent months, have demanded staff to return to in-person work. 

Lifesum, a global healthy eating platform serving GE, Google and Amazon employees, recently revealed that Gen Z and millennial staffers are experiencing high levels of work-related stress that interfere with their personal lives. Such experiences can have a significant financial impact on the part of employers should staffers look for the nearest exit in favor of a new job.

Corporate wellness giant Gympass has also been sounding the alarm on the debate between in-person, hybrid or fully remote work, finding that the topic is causing a growing workplace conflict that affects employee performance. In a report that examined workplace well-being and return-to-office mandates, Gympass found that location flexibility is crucial to keeping staff engaged and aligns with wellness. 

“Location flexibility — where possible — may be the best approach to supporting worker wellness,” Gympass found. “Workers in their preferred environment, for example, are more likely to say their work enables them to care for their well-being when needed.

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Walmart has leveled up the corporate wellness game with its 360,000-square-foot Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness center at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The push for wellness is a major component of Walmart’s sprawling new 350-acre corporate campus, which also includes a food hall, office spaces, a hotel and a childcare center. Areas of the campus will open in phases through 2025, although the Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness center opens Friday, January 12.

Investing in Walmart and Sam’s Club employees with wellness and supportive amenities is meant to engage staff and attract “the next generation of talent” needed to compete, as indicated by the retailer on its corporate website. 

Walmart’s decision aligns with the expectations of Gen Z and Millennials, who increasingly seek employers who support their health and wellness. A recent Lifesum survey found that 48% of young workers would quit their current job for an employer prioritizing wellness. Additionally, 69% believe they would be more productive if their employer invested in the improvement of their health and well-being.

Gympass, a leading corporate wellness platform, has continued to emphasize the need to invest in employee wellness, urging that it’s no longer viewed as a mere perk but a necessity. Both large and small-scale employers who properly support their staff reap a long list of benefits and decrease costs while boosting productivity.

Walmart’s new facility, a significant upgrade from its previous Walton Life Fitness Center, focuses on whole health, featuring a multipurpose pool for swim lessons and aerobics, a lap pool, a hot tub and a shallow activity pool with a splash pad for children.

Fitness offerings include traditional gym equipment as well as studios for all workout types, including ones with calming views of nature, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, an indoor turf field, walking and jogging track, basketball courts and shared pickleball and volleyball courts.

“Oftentimes when we’re thinking about wellness, we may be thinking about wellness in a physical sense or wellness in a mental sense, whereas whole health is really sort of a more encompassing concept,” said Walt Cooper, Ph.D., and CEO of the Whole Health Institute. “This space was purposefully designed to provide you the opportunity to pause and reflect on what you need most.”

A promenade is also featured at the center, which the retailer indicates is designed for associates to “gather, learn, reflect and be mindful.” Outside, a meditation garden is available, as well as space for outdoor fitness classes and access to outdoor trails for walking, biking or running. Children are also encouraged to live healthfully with the facility’s youth activity center.

All part-time, full-time, and temporary Walmart and Sam’s Club Associates in the Northwest Arkansas area are eligible for a Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness membership for $12/bi-weekly for associates and $21/bi-weekly for an associate and immediate family.

The retailer partnered with HealthFitness to oversee operations of the new fitness and health facility.

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Workplace stress is experienced by 52% of Gen Z and millennials, with 51% stating that their personal life is affected by work-related stress always or most of the time, a new survey from Lifesum reveals. The global healthy eating platform, which has been tapped to serve GE, Google and Amazon employees, is encouraging employers to take measures to support staff — a move that Lifesum says is mutually beneficial.

The findings are based on a Lifesum October survey of over 5,000 U.S.-based Gen Z and millennial employees to explore how they make career decisions based on personal values.

“Burnout, layoffs and the cost of living crisis impact stress, but it won’t stop people from job-hopping,” said Wesleigh Roeca, director of business development at Lifesum. “Gen Z and millennials are telling us that factors, including healthy eating initiatives, help them — and for good reason, given that scientific evidence shows how a balanced diet can support a healthy immune system and provide the extra energy to deal with stressful events.”

Ultimately, Lifesum’s findings underscore that workplace health and well-being are imperative to the success of companies and their staff. Not only would 48% of survey respondents quit tomorrow in favor of a job supporting their wellness, but 69% said they’d be more productive if their employer took measures to improve their health and well-being.

Creating a Culture of Workplace Well-Being

“Gen Z and millennials care deeply about their health and well-being and are passionate about finding a job that aligns with their personal values,” added Roeca. “Scientific evidence, including a recent McKinsey Health Institute study, shows how healthy eating leads to improved cognitive functioning and reversal of type 2 diabetes — all of which impacts workplace outcomes.”

The results should make employers take note — but with some simple measures such as positive management, healthy eating initiatives, proper compensation and mental health support, employees are more apt to feel supported and experience reduced stress levels.

Although many companies are beginning to provide employees with access to well-being tools and actionable resources such as Lifesum, the report indicates there is still a long way to go, as nearly 64% of respondents feel their employer doesn’t have a “well-being culture.”

One surprising survey result from Lifesum’s research was that 35% of female Gen Z and millennials would quit their job tomorrow in exchange for one that better supports their monthly cycle. 

It’s a finding to which Lifesum has been calling attention in the crowded corporate wellness industry: that hormonal health has a profound impact on everyone, with menopause alone costing American women an estimated $1.8 billion in lost working time per year. Lifesum also cites an additional finding revealing a million women in the U.K. left their jobs due to the symptoms of menopause.

“Hormones regulate every process in the body, including stress and productivity, meaning employers risk losing top talent if they don’t offer support, such as fertility planning and hormonal health,” Roeca said. “Everyone has hormones and that’s why our Hormonal Health Plan works for all genders.”

Young Workers Want Flexibility

Lastly, despite many major corporations diminishing remote work in favor of fully in-office models or a scaled-down version of a hybrid model — Lifesum’s research shows Gen Z and millennial workers want their employers to continue granting flexibility, and 41% would seek another job if a hybrid model wasn’t on the table.

As Roeca points out, flexibility is “hugely motivating,” and it’s a factor employers should consider when attracting and retaining talent. Most importantly, regardless of an employer’s decision — remote, hybrid or in-office, they can still support staff with wellness programs and see a guaranteed return on engagement and productivity. 

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Lifesum, a healthy eating app that has attracted major employers such as Amazon, GE and PayPal, has introduced a new digital health benefit, the Healthy Fasting Program, available through its Lifesum for Work corporate wellness platform.

The Lifesum Healthy Fasting Program allows users to design a fasting plan that works for them based on their lifestyle and needs or opt for a pre-set fasting interval. Employees receive nutritional guidance on what to eat based on their fast selection, providing recipes with reminders of when to start and end their fast. 

The fasting lifestyle can be an ideal and healthy approach for employees, as proponents say it can optimize productivity and overall wellness.

“Fasting is a popular way of eating, but helping employees to find a fasting routine that fits their personal needs is key,” said Signe Svanfeldt, Lifesum’s lead nutritionist. “When practiced safely, individuals report higher levels of concentration, and feel more focused and energized.”

A Food-First Approach To Corporate Wellness

Since launching its healthy eating app in 2013, Lifesum has inspired over 60 million people with its unique approach to better-for-you food choices that incorporates personalized nutrition insights, guidance, recipes, meal plans, diets and food and exercise trackers.

As consumers continue to pivot towards wellness apps, platforms and therapies, employers have also taken note of the benefits of investing in employees’ health, such as increased engagement, retention and reduced absenteeism — all of which work in tandem to increase a company’s bottom line.

Lifesum recently added group insurance company YuLife as a corporate wellness partner, bringing its corporate wellness experience to member companies such as Tesco, Santander and Capital One.

The healthy eating app has also taken an innovative approach with the recent launch of its Hormonal Meal Plan, which encourages employees to balance hormones naturally and addresses what Lifesum calls a “workplace blindspot.”

While available to both male and female employees, Lifesum’s Hormonal Meal Plan gives special consideration and attention to the nutritional needs of women experiencing menopausal symptoms, which, according to Lifesum, costs American women roughly $1.8 billion in lost working time each year.

In addition to nutritional support, Lifesum also promotes sleep hygiene and its impact on workplace wellness, as seen by a partnership with Oura. As part of collaborating with the wearable tech company, employees can access Lifesum’s sleep tracking feature to understand the link between sleep, nutrition and workplace performance. 

Svanfeldt offers the following tips for employees looking to fast healthily at work:

1. Avoid excessive caffeine: drinking black coffee is fine while fasting, but be careful not to exceed the individual tolerance level, as this can lead to headaches, dizziness, increased heart rate, and nausea. If you still feel like having a warm drink after consuming your daily coffee amount, enjoy an unsweetened, caffeine-free herbal tea instead.

2. Hydrate: stay properly hydrated throughout the day. Always keep a water bottle or glass close by, as it can help to curb hunger. If you want to make your water more exciting, infuse it with some herbs and/or sliced vegetables. Mint and cucumber are a perfect combination.

3. Plan meals ahead: make sure to plan your daily intake of food, and bring a nutritious meal to work. If you fast during the morning, it is likely that you will be very hungry during lunch. The natural temptation is to reach for a quick-fix sugary snack instead of a proper meal, so ensure that you prepare a home-cooked, nutritious meal instead.

4. Breaking the fast: when breaking the fast, aim to eat a balanced meal rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats to achieve a stable blood sugar raise, as well as filling you up with nutritious fuel. These three components help you stay fuller for longer and provide essential nutrients.

5. Stay flexible: always prioritize your health and well-being. Even if you had planned to fast for a certain amount of hours, it is important to listen to your body. Stay flexible and allow yourself to break if required. Fasting is not for everyone. We all have individual needs that can vary depending on the day, sleep duration and daily activities.

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Lifesum, a highly popular app that inspires healthy eating, has attracted a new corporate wellness partner in group insurance company YuLife. The deal will bring Lifesum’s corporate wellness experience to member companies such as Tesco, Santander and Capital One.

Since launching in 2013, Lifesum has grown to encourage over 60 million people with its approach to smart food choices. The platform features customized nutrition insights, guidance, recipes, meal plans and diets, and offers users food and exercise trackers.

The Lifsum app can now be found in YuLife’s YuStore, a marketplace where companies can purchase health and wellness apps. 

“Healthy eating impacts every aspect of life, including workplace well-being, which is why organizations are turning to Lifesum, as they know the benefits of investing in the health of their employees to achieve their full potential,” said Chris Seth, chief strategy officer at Lifesum.

Lifesum’s approach to wellness supports a recent report that demonstrated the economic results of investing in employee well-being, which is worth up to a staggering $370 billion per year to U.K. organizations, or the equivalent of £4,000 to £12,000 per U.K. employee.

In addition to YuLife, the health eating solution app has attracted other major employers including Amazon, GE and PayPal.

Sammy Rubin, YuLife founder and CEO, explained that the company is pioneering a new form of group insurance for businesses by incentivizing health lifestyle modifications, reducing risk and improving overall health.

“Lifesum’s focus on holistic health enables YuLife to help businesses seeking to improve the well-being of their employees, and make a tangible difference to their lives,” Rubin sad. “Unequivocal evidence shows how healthy eating impacts all aspects of life, both in and out of the workplace, and leads to lower absenteeism, higher productivity and active, fulfilled lives.”

The healthy eating platform recently became the first to launch a Hormonal Meal Plan, designed to aid employees in balancing hormones naturally. Lifesum also introduced a sleep tracking feature with Oura, supporting the link between sleep and nutrition, which significantly impacts overall workplace health and wellness.

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The rise of modern-day technology has been blamed for many of society’s current health problems, including the obesity epidemic and rampant chronic disease, but perhaps it can also be the cure.

Lifesum, a highly popular healthy eating platform, was founded on a pair of defining principles: that nutrition is the most important part of living a healthy life and that in order to encourage good food choices, people need a digital experience that’s fun, engaging and drives motivation.

Founded in 2013 by tech entrepreneurs with experience in online entertainment, including a former Spotify executive, Lifesum is in the game of “democratizing healthy eating,” as the company puts it. Today, the Lifesum app has over 60 million global users, the majority of which are in the U.S. and European markets, whose populations are increasingly embracing personalized nutrition, alongside food education and inspiration, to eat healthier and make smarter food choices.

The idea behind Lifesum, according to the platform’s co-founder and CIO Marcus Gners, was to bring some of the tech learnings and design elements that have made entertainment apps like the Spotifys of the world so popular and bring those features to nutrition. Gners himself has a background in internet gaming, having previously held an executive position at Stardoll, a popular online fashion game.

“We saw an opportunity to apply top-grade consumer web knowledge to something as serious as health,” Gners told Athletech News, adding that the company believes nutrition is the best way to influence health outcomes for the majority of the population.

“We think nutrition isn’t just a part of health and wellness, it’s at the center of it,” Gners says. “What you eat dictates how fast you run, how heavy the weights you lift are, how energized you feel, what mood you’re in and how long you live. Nutrition is the most difficult part (of health), but it’s also the most important part.”

The Lifesum app helps users lose weight or generally improve their overall health through a host of features, including calorie and macronutrient tracking. The platform also offers recipes, meal plan templates and diet plans, as well as sleep and activity tracking by synching with Apple Health and Google Fit data.

More Than a Food-Tracking App

Despite its food-tracking features, Gners says Lifesum is designed around the notion that “a calorie is not a calorie.” In the app, users receive guidance and feedback about the types of foods they’re eating and how those choices fit into their overall health goals. That includes a food rating system where a user’s food choices are measured based on things like satiety and how well they fit into a particular meal plan.

“We do the numerical breakdown of macros, but we try to keep that in the background as much as possible,” Gners explains. “It’s about putting the macros into context with things like recipes and meal plans.”

Perhaps drawing upon Gners’ experience in the online gaming world, one of Lifesum’s core features is what it calls a “Life Score,” a number users get after signing in to the platform for the first time and answering a series of questions about their recent eating habits, like how many times they ate vegetables or candy during the prior week. The app then gives users suggestions on habits they can adopt to improve their Life Score, such as eating more protein. Importantly, the Life Score changes over time, giving users real-time feedback, in an engaging way, on the impact their food choices are having on their overall health. 

Gners contrasts Lifesum’s user-centric approach with the way healthcare systems and diet companies in the modern world have tended to approach weight loss and healthy eating, which he says is based on using “fear, guilt and shame” to drive motivation. 

“Nike isn’t the brand they are because they fear and guilt people,” the Lifesum co-founder says. “We thought we should take the guilt and shame out of health and nutrition and talk to the user with empathy. From a Millennial and Gen Z perspective, that has been very appealing.”

Lifesum’s approach also includes “putting a lot of emphasis on design” and the way the app looks and feels, Gners says, so users want to keep logging in day after day to track and improve their nutrition. 

The Lifesum app has received over 850,000 reviews on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, with ratings of 4.6 stars and 4.3 stars, respectively. 

Lifesum and the Rise of Corporate Wellness

While Lifesum’s consumer app is highly popular, as its 60-million-plus user base would attest to, the company recently saw another way to get its product into the hands of even more people: corporate wellness. 

A few years ago, the company launched Lifesum for Work, an enterprise version of its product that allows companies to purchase a Lifesum Premium subscription (normally $8.33 a month for an individual user) and give it to their workers as part of an employee wellness package. 

As employee wellness becomes increasingly important post-pandemic, Lifesum says its product helps businesses increase employee engagement, lower absenteeism and churn, and boost productivity.

From the user’s perspective, accessing Lifesum for Work isn’t much different than using the normal consumer app, except that your company foots the bill for a premium subscription and there are some additional functionalities. As part of a push to offer added value to companies who sign up, Lifesum for Work includes exclusive content like cookalongs, webinars and additional recipes that aren’t available in the consumer version of the product.

Gners notes that companies, including customers like Google, Amazon and GE, tend to be happy to partner with Lifesum over pure B2B corporate health platforms, since Lifesum’s product is already battle-tested in the consumer space. 

“It’s a competitive advantage because we’ve made our living making a product that’s great for the consumer market, where we’ve had to live and die with every click,” he says.”If you do that, over the years, with millions of users, the product becomes really good.” 

Telehealth Could Be on the Horizon

As it looks ahead, Gners says Lifesum will focus on connecting deeper with its users, including exploring more ways to influence healthy eating and looking deeper into the reasons why people make certain food choices in the first place and how they can change.

The company could also look to offer telehealth services or partner with telehealth platforms, although nothing is set in stone yet. 

“There’s something magical about the combination of human plus machine, but I don’t think many telehealth companies have succeeded with that yet,” Gners says. 

Lifesum isn’t scared off by weight loss drugs like Ozempic; on the contrary, the platform views them as a potentially potent one-two punch along with proper nutrition on the road to better health. 

“These types of medications can supercharge the Lifesum experience,” Gners says, making another nod to his video-game background. “If you have certain issues or conditions, it’s not that easy to just eat less and exercise more. There’s an opportunity to create fantastic value for our users.”

Whether it’s through the platform’s consumer app, its corporate wellness product or potential telehealth integrations, Gners says everything Lifesum does boils down to its goal of democratizing access to better health through food, which is part of what he and his team call “advanced wellness.”

“If you take sports medicine, for example, it’s not healthcare or sick care, it’s something else that utilizes medicine in a premium way,” Gners explains. “That type of thinking, which is not there to diagnose or treat diseases but is about making you as good as you can be, that’s something we think should be accessible for normal people, not just LeBron James.”

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Lifesum, a global healthy eating platform with over 65 million users, has introduced a Hormonal Meal Plan for employees, offering an innovative approach to corporate wellness.

The meal program is available via Lifesum for Work, Lifesum’s corporate healthy eating service used by high-profile employers such as Amazon and Nike.

“The Hormonal Meal Plan is another exciting step towards Lifesum’s holistic approach to workplace health, which empowers everyone to live a longer, healthier life,” said Jenny Ragnas, chief product officer at Lifesum.

The platform is shining a spotlight on the importance of hormone regulation, which, as Lifesum points out, controls every process in the body, impacting stress, mental health and productivity. Employees using Lifesum’s Hormonal Meal Plan will now receive personalized health insights, guidance, recipes and feedback on micro and macronutrients.

Improving the health and well-being of employees is shown to increase a company’s bottom line with reduced absenteeism, improved engagement and retention, and increased productivity.

“Typically, our bodies maintain hormones within a normal level, but modern food processing and sedentary lifestyles make this process more difficult,” Ragnas said. “Lifesum is innovating the next phase of workplace hormonal health by offering a solution for all employees that naturally supports the body in balancing hormones, and leads to a healthier, more productive workforce.”

Lifesum’s Hormonal Meal Plan also addresses and supports the nutritional needs of women experiencing menopausal symptoms. According to Lifesum, this frequently overlooked and taboo topic costs American women roughly $1.8 billion in lost working time each year, while a million women in the U.K. have left their jobs due to the aggravating symptoms of menopause. 

“While Lifesum’s Hormonal Meal Plan is available for all employees, it also provides a practical workplace intervention to support the hormone health of female employees and promote open conversations,” Ragnas said. “Without the right culture, taboos will remain.”

Founded in 2013 by a group of tech entrepreneurs with experience in online entertainment, Lifesum helps users lose weight or generally improve their overall health through a host of features, including calorie and macronutrient tracking. The platform also offers recipes, meal plan templates and diet plans, as well as sleep and activity tracking by synching with Apple Health and Google Fit data.

The platform recently introduced a sleep-tracking feature with Oura so users can better understand the link between sleep and nutrition and how it impacts weight management and overall workplace health. Consumers are expected to become increasingly focused on the benefits of proper sleep hygiene, according to a 2024 wellness trends report from Mindbody.

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The nutrition app Lifesum has announced a new growth milestone, exceeding more than 45 million global users in May 2020. Making this rapid growth even more impressive, Lifesum grew its user base at a time when consumers across the globe are forced to Shelter-at-Home due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Technology has played a massive role in the health and wellness industry, and we’re seeing a large shift in the way that people think about eating and eating healthy,” said Henrik Torstensson, CEO of Lifesum

Lifesum also continued to acquire more users at a faster pace than other weight loss programs advertising heavily on TV, including Noom and WW (Weight Watchers), according to public analytics published with the market intelligence platform, Sensor Tower.

The CEO of Lifesum, Henrik Torstensson, said consumers are gravitating towards healthier food options – as opposed to weight loss diets – and Lifesum’s nutrition health program is benefiting from the shift.

“The concept of a traditional one-size-fits all diet doesn’t make sense any more,” said Torstensson. “Technology has played a massive role in the health and wellness industry, and we’re seeing a large shift in the way that people think about eating and eating healthy. Younger generations, like Millennials and Gen Z, are taking their health into their own hands and want to cultivate sustainable, healthy eating habits that fit their needs and lifestyle. Lifesum is filling this gap.”

US Market Leading Rapid Growth for Lifesum

Lifesum is already one of the most popular digital health apps in the UK, Germany, France,Italy, Russia, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. And it consistently ranks in the Top 10 in the Health & Fitness section in the App Store and is the Editors’ Choice on Google Play.

In January 2020, the editor of Parade Magazine called Lifesum her “personal favorite” for healthy eating, while PCMag wrote, “Lifesum is one of the best weight management apps I’ve seen,” in their review of digital health apps.

Torstensson said many Americans first learned of Lifesum after Apple showcased it during the unveiling of Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018. Since then, Lifesum has been on a steady upwards trajectory.

“People around the world are looking for practical and sustainable ways to eat healthier. As a mobile app, we’re able to educate and give immediate feedback to people across the globe on how they can implement a balanced, nutrient-rich diet that fits their personal health goals,” said Torstensson. “Lifesum has received hundreds of thousands of positive reviews both from consumers and reporters. It’s one of the many reasons we hit this record milestone so quickly.”

Earlier this year, Lifesum announced a new content and software update that helps consumers eat healthier and with more variety to their diet to help users who are forced to stay at home during this global pandemic.

Consumer Engagement Continues to Grow in 2020

Internal data has shown user engagement with Lifesum is increasing across the globe as more consumers cook at home and look for more ways to eat healthy.

Lifesum also discovered as the Coronavirus quarantine expanded across the globe, consumers became more mindful of what they ate. Lifesum user data shows people ate more fruits, vegetables and healthy nuts, and fewer ready-made meals during the shelter-at-home. It’s a trend that continues today.

The post The Nutrition App, Lifesum, Announces Rapid Growth Milestone of 45 Million Users appeared first on Athletech News.