1 in 3 Aussies use wearables to track sleep and exercise

The latest Bupa Pulse Check found fitness and activity tracking platforms such as Fitbit, Apple Health and Strava are Australia's most popular digital health tools, ahead of telehealth, meditation and nutrition apps.

The study also found younger Aussies are leading the wearables trend with 45% aged 40 and under monitoring their health and fitness using apps or wearable devices, compared with 23% of Australians aged 50 and above.

The national survey of 2000 Australians also found two in three Australians said the most valuable feature in a health and wellbeing app was the ability to track sleep, physical activity and nutrition, making it the most sought-after health initiative ahead of rewards programs, trusted health information, and personalised recommendations.

GP, and Bupa Clinical Innovation General Manager, Dr Janice Tan, said Aussies had moved beyond simply counting steps and were increasingly using wearable technology to build a more complete picture of their overall health and wellbeing.

“As a GP, I'm seeing more patients come in with health data from their smartwatches and fitness trackers,” Dr Tan said.

“Recently, one patient was worried about their high resting heart rate, but after looking into it a little deeper, we discovered the issue was actually dehydration, which can affect heart rate and other health conditions.

“Wearables and AI are making it easier than ever for people to access health information. They can support more informed conversations with healthcare professionals but should never be used to self-diagnose or replace professional medical advice.”

The Australian wearables market is expected to grow from US$4.49 billion in 2026 to US$8.09 billion by 2031, an annual growth rate of 12.5%. ^[1] Dr Tan said wearables provided useful data, especially in between GP visits, but a meaningful relationship with a person’s doctor would always be one of the most powerful tools for keeping people well and reducing their risk of chronic disease.

“Many chronic health conditions develop over time, often without obvious symptoms. Wearables can help people build awareness of their health and encourage healthy habits long before they need medical treatment, which is why they're becoming such a valuable add-on tool in preventative health,” she said.

“I'd much rather see patients taking an interest in their health before something goes wrong.

“This real-time information is not only helping people make healthier choices every day but also giving clinicians valuable insights that can help uncover underlying health issues.”

Health and wellbeing apps Australians use:

• 33% – Fitness or activity tracking (e.g. Fitbit, Apple Health, Strava)
• 16% – Digital GP or virtual health consultations (e.g. Blua, HotDoc)
• 15% – Meditation or mindfulness apps (e.g. Headspace, Calm)
• 13% – Nutrition or diet tracking apps (e.g. MyFitnessPal, Noom)

Most valuable features in a health and wellbeing app:

• 66% – Tracking physical activity, sleep or nutrition
• 51% – Earning rewards or incentives for healthy behaviour
• 50% – Getting trusted health information and advice
• 49% – Managing or tracking mental health and stress levels
• 45% – Receiving personalised recommendations to improve health
  
  ^{*Source: Bupa Pulse Check 2026}

^{[1] Wearable Technology Market Size, Share & Trends Report 2031}