Smartphones have become an inextricable part of our life; we use them from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed. And with more than 2.2 million apps on Google Play and 2 million apps on Apple App Store, there is no shortage of options when it comes to health and fitness Apps in Africa.
Of course, weight loss in Africa can be challenging due to the carbohydrate-rich nature of our meals and with the holiday season approaching, we need all the help we can get. So here are some of the top health and fitness Apps in Africa that perfectly fit our unique diets and needs.
Table of Contents
Top Health and Fitness Apps in Africa
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Noom
The Noom app will take your health and weight loss journey to a whole new level. The best part of the app is that it emphasizes making better choices rather than just losing weight.
Since its launch, Noom has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the world including Africa.
Noom operates through a simple rating system. The app rates each food you eat with three different colors green, yellow, and red. The colors are relatable as they are similar to our traffic lights system. Red means foods with higher calories, yellow signifies fewer nutrients while green foods have the most nutrients and should account for the majority of your diet.
The rating system encourages high-protein, high-fiber, low-sugar foods that help you stay fuller for longer. With time, this system trains your brain on which foods are better than others. In addition, Noom has thousands of coaches who will provide daily guidance and encouragement on nutrition and exercise.
Pros
- Psychology-based approach leading to long-term weight loss.
- Focuses on flexibility
- Offers exercise recommendations
- Daily articles about weight loss, nutrition, and exercise
- Free 14 day trial
- Great support system from coaches
Cons
- A bit costly for some users at $59 a month.
- No specified meal plans
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Calorie Counter – MyFitnessPal:
First launched in 2005, MyFitness Pal is one of the most popular health and fitness Apps in Africa and beyond. Users can create their fitness profiles with just a few clicks. The app then recommends the net calories you should consume daily to meet your weight loss goals.
You will be required to log in your meals and exercise throughout the day. Based on your targeted weight loss, the app calculates the calories consumed and burned from exercise and lets you know how many calories you still have left for the day.
What makes this app one of the best health and fitness Apps in Africa is its vast food database- with over 11 million foods which help Africans accurately log in what they eat. Moreover, the app remembers your frequent foods so it’s easier to log in to the diary over time.
Pros
- Enticing design and Interface.
- Big database of foods from around the world.
- Free with a premium option available.
Cons
- Focuses more on numbers than nutrition.
- Some may find it time-consuming.
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Home Workout- No Equipment
The gym isn’t the only place where you can get a great workout. Working out at home may be just as effective with apps like Home Workout- No Equipment.
If you’re new to exercising and don’t know where to start, the Home Workout-No Equipment app is a great starting point. The app allows you to create your own workout plan and track your progress.
Professionals on the app help you build more detailed plans and better motivate you to stay on track. You can also select from a variety of pre-existing workout plans.
The app is one of the best health and fitness Apps in Africa as it provides a daily workout routine all with no equipment. This comes in handy since workout/ gym equipment remains to be a costly affair in Africa.
Pros
- Convenient and cost-effective.
- Work out at your own pace from the comfort of your own home.
- Great for tracking your workout progress.
- Notifies you throughout the day to help you get motivated.
Cons
- Space might be an issue.
- Some may be tempted to skip the workouts.
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Adidas Runtastic
Runtastic is a sports tracking app primarily aimed at runners as well as other sports such as cycling or kayaking. Bodyweight training sessions, and other fitness/ sports activities can also be tracked using the app.
With more than 150 million registered users worldwide, Addidas Runtastic makes up one of the best health and fitness Apps in Africa.
You take the app with you on your run so it can record your distance, pace, calories burned, heart rate, etc. The app also uses GPS to mark your run. Additionally, you can establish goals for yourself whether weekly, monthly, or yearly, so you can actively work on them and measure your success.
What’s more, the app features a voice trainer that encourages and provides updates on your progress encouraging you to work towards your goals while still keeping you motivated and engaged.
Since weight loss is more fun together, you can create a running community within the app, providing you with much-needed social support. You can even invite participants to your challenge.
Pros
- Easy to navigate.
- Both free and paid-for versions are available.
- Real-time tracking.
- Social support.
Cons
- Battery demanding.
- Can’t train on the app while listening to music.
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Fitness Buddy
Fitness Buddy is becoming more popular in Africa since it encompasses the majority of your workout needs in one app, from planning and recording your workout to tracking your weight loss progress, blood pressure, and other metrics.
Perhaps the most valuable feature of this app is the extensive database of exercises. The software provides 1700 exercises and 70 fitness routines, making it like having a personal trainer with you at all times.
The app allows users to select from a variety of pre-defined workouts or create their own. Different workouts target specific body parts and are appropriate for various levels, including beginners, recovery, and even yoga. By clicking on a specific body part on a diagram of the human body, you can access hundreds of exercises that target specific muscle groups.
Once you have your workout planned. Fitness Buddy will keep track of all the workouts you have done and show your upcoming workouts in a calendar view so you never miss your workout. In addition, Fitness buddy has a built-in music player so users can create a quick playlist.
Pros
- A database of over 1700 workouts
- Great for beginners to learn different exercises
- Workouts and activities are all saved against a calendar.
- Users can select exercises by muscle groups.
Cons
- No reminders
- The free version doesn’t include metrics like weight and blood pressure
Conclusion
There are thousands of applications available claiming to help you lose weight and maintain your health. Not all of them, however, are as effective. Above, we’ve compiled a list of the Best Health and Fitness Apps in Africa you can dive into today. These apps will allow you to achieve the most out of your exercises while attaining your health goals.