Despite widespread skepticism about the efficacy of many health apps, some evidence is emerging that they might actually work. At least some of them.

 

One in five people uses mobile technology to improve her or his health, while those who routinely use health-related apps are linked to better outcomes, according to a new report from Gallup.

 

"People are increasingly using mobile technology to improve their well-being," wrote the authors, Dan Witters and Sangeeta Agrawal. "This isn't surprising, given that mobile technology is becoming more integral to people's lives."

 

[See also: Microsoft taps into mHealth.]

 

The study shows that 19 percent of all adults have downloaded and routinely used at least one health app; among full-time workers, this percentage rose to 23 percent.

 

The huge popularity of mobile phones provides the foundation for health apps. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 39 percent of adults in the U.S. now use only mobile phones, eclipsing the 7 percent who use only landline phones by a 5-to-1 ratio.

 

About two-thirds, or 65 percent, of adults have a smartphone and about half of these smartphone users — or 34 percent of all adults — have downloaded at least one app that is meant to support healthy living, Gallup research shows.

 

[See also: mHealth market scales to new heights.]

 

The report recommends that businesses encourage workers to use health-related mobile technology and apps, and that they show employees a health-related app on their smartphone and explain the benefits.

 

Other recommendations include highlighting an "app of the month," testing the usefulness of apps within the workplace, setting up team competitions to promote the use of well-being apps, assigning app champions and encouraging managers to be key advocates in helping employees find activities to boost their well-being.

 

"Well-being apps," the authors wrote, "can and do play a key role in promoting well-being for employees."