Apple Highlights Its Growing Role in Promoting Personal Health and Supporting the Medical Community

Apple today is releasing a detailed new report highlighting the ways its ecosystem of products and services are impacting human health, from helping users keep track of their own personal health to supporting medical research and care.

apple health study 2022

"We believe passionately that technology can play a role in improving health outcomes and encouraging people to live a healthier day, and we are excited about the many ways users are benefiting from our health and fitness features, and by the ways third-party developers, institutions, and organizations are using Apple technology to advance health and science," said Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer. "Our vision for the future is to continue to create science-based technology that equips people with even more information and acts as an intelligent guardian for their health, so they're no longer passengers on their own health journey. Instead, we want people to be firmly in the driver's seat with meaningful, actionable insights."

The 59-page document is split into two main sections, with the first one focused on empowering users with convenient access to their own health data while delivering health and fitness features to help maintain or improve their health. Apple outlines its commitment to privacy with secure storage of health data, the Apple Watch's role in health monitoring and as a health and fitness companion, and the HealthKit framework that opens up the ecosystem to third-party apps.

With the release of iOS 16 and watchOS 9 later this year, there will be even more health-related features available to users, including medication tracking, AFib History, and sleep stage tracking.

apple health fitness features 2022
The second section of the report examines how Apple's health initiative integrates with the medical community, including features like ResearchKit and the Apple Research app. Other aspects include how Apple supports physician-patient relationships with technology and data and how it helps health organizations and insurance companies promote healthy lifestyles with Apple Watch.

The report concludes with an Extensions and Spotlights section that highlights a number of examples of developers and organizations that are leveraging Apple's health-related features and services to drive innovation.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

Justin Cymbal Avatar
41 months ago
Apple is doing a fantastic job with integrating technology and health

I hope that Apple continues to add and make improvements to both the Apple Watch and HealthKit

There have been rumors that the upcoming AirPods Pro, which may be released this fall, will have additional health capabilities so I’m really looking forward to the new AirPods Pro being released

I currently am using an Apple Watch series 7 but if Apple adds additional health capabilities to this year’s Apple Watch, I will definitely be upgrading to the series 8
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
triton100 Avatar
41 months ago

Since getting an AW, I’ve lost 120 pounds, gave up meat, and am the healthiest I’ve been in 30 years.

I’d like to think the AW played a significant role in that.
Super cool, what Apple Watch feature helped you to give up meat?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
everlast3434 Avatar
41 months ago
[HEADING=2]Apple Highlights Its Harvesting of Its Customers Health Information[/HEADING]
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dantracht Avatar
41 months ago
Since getting an AW, I’ve lost 120 pounds, gave up meat, and am the healthiest I’ve been in 30 years.

I’d like to think the AW played a significant role in that.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarAnalogy Avatar
41 months ago

It's silly to say that, because I used almost all the other features. Calls (with cell plan so I didn't always bring my phone), several message apps, games, mail, music, podcast, weather, calendar, food ordering, to control several home devices, shazam, navigation, alarm, reminders, audiobooks...all this just the top of my head.

To say that I should use a mechanical watch just because I don't use health features and want the watch to do without the extra hardware? Come on. If you want to sling that tiresome sarcastic reaction toward somebody, I'm not the target.
I understand where you're coming from but I don't think Apple will ever release a watch without HR sensor, it's too big of a headline feature. Ever since the very first one almost flopped from leaning way too hard into fashion, they've made it essentially a health device that also does some other stuff (from a marketing perspective.)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icanhazmac Avatar
41 months ago
Still wish GymKit had been a bigger success.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)