Are health metrics hurting our mental health?

YES

Metrics often lead to a feeling of not being good enough

People get get hung up on sth. (ifml.)von etw. besessen werden; wegen etw. Komplexe entwickelnhung up on health metricsMessdatenmetrics. They’re more likely to feel stress and ­experience pressure to lose weight. ­Metrics often lead to a feeling of not ­being good enough or able to achieve goals, particularly when people don’t see a difference on the scalesWaagescales despite their best efforts. Health metrics contribute to calorie-counting and an obsession with exercisehier: (Sport-)Trainingexercise, which is not always bad if it makes you feel more positive, but it can be problematic.

The numbers people see, compared to what they’re told they should be achieving (calories, hours of exercise, etc.), make them feel disheartenedentmutigt, niedergeschlagendisheartened and demotivated if they don’t reach their goals. Neurodiverse people in particular may develop ­irrational, obsessive tendencies. A routine, such as going to the gymFitnessstudiogym, can become an addictionSucht, Abhängigkeitaddiction, either to lose or gain weight.

Many people genuinelywirklichgenuinely want to be healthier, but reports about health metrics can negatively impact their behaviour. This can influence eating habits, ­exercise, the use of supplement(Nahrungs-)Ergänzungsmittelsupplements, fasting or more extreme methods of weight management.

We live in a world in which image is a big part of many people’s lives. A lot of work goes into trying to look a certain way, and people can become overlyübermäßig, zu sehroverly concerned about others’ opinions of their physical appearance. Metrics can impact mental health and our perceptionWahrnehmungperceptions of ourselves, even subconsciouslyunterbewusstsubconsciously. This can be combat sth.etw. bekämpfen; hier: entgegenwirkencombatted with support, reassuranceBeruhigung, Beschwichtigung, Bestätigungreassurance from ­others and encouraging self-talk. A happier, healthier, more fulfillingerfüllendfulfilling life is possible without measuring your every move.

CHRIS OATWAY is a marketing and communications consultant

www.linkedin.com/in/chris-o-~-serial-networker-and-connector-of-people

NO

Information can bring peace of mind

As a sports psychologist working with high-performance athleteHochleistungssportler(in)high-performance athletes, I see how health metrics, when used appropriately, can support mental health. They’re not inherentlygrundsätzlich, an sichinherently dangerous or harmfulschädlich; nachteiligharmful, but often help individuals develop more self-awareness, motivation and emotional stability.

In competitive environments, progress can be invisible to the naked eyemit bloßem Augeto the naked eye. Health metrics make those micro-improvements visible. Parameters such as sleep quality, reaction time or recovery scoreBewertung, Auswertungscores help athletes recognize growth. That often ­increases confidence and a sense of purposeGefühl der Sinnhaftigkeit; Zielstrebigkeitsense of purpose, especially in challenging phases when external results might not yet show.

monitor sth.etw. überwachenMonitoring heart-rate variability or sleep consistency helps athletes anticipate overtraining or illness. That early awareness enable sth.etw. ermöglichenenables preventative actions and reduces uncertainty, which lowers anxietyinnere Unruhe, Besorgnisanxiety. Information, when understood correctly, can bring peace of mindinnere Ruhepeace of mind.

Metrics also promote self-regulation. A person may notice that their mood ­improves when their sleep score is ­higher. This kind of insightErkenntnisinsight leads to informed ­decisions about rest, training or nutritionErnährung(sweise)nutrition. Awareness and balance are the goal, not perfection. Rather than comparing themselves to others, athletes benefit most from comparing current data to their own past results.

Such a personal feedback loop encourages healthy strivingStreben, Bestrebungstriving without unnecessary pressure. When the data is connected to meaningful goals, people feel in control of their development. Metrics should be interpreted by qualified professionals. The data alone means little without the right context.

QUIM MAIRAL is a sports psychologist and high-performance coach based in Barcelona, Spain

www.linkedin.com/in/qmairal