Active Overwatch 031

Here’s your weekly roundup of news, trends, and stories in the health & fitness space. A list of what’s happening, new innovations, interesting finds, and more.

Weekly roundup

MyNetDiary launches AI meal scanning. A new app feature allowing users to take photos of their meal to track nutrition. Using AI to identify the foods in the image and then estimate the portion size for calorie and macro tracking.

• Now THIS is a use case of AI that I actually like. There’s a lot of products that roll out AI features for the sake of hopping on the buzzword bandwagon. Most of the time, it’s a pretty useless feature that people weren’t even asking for. I’ve said this before, but AI in health & fitness should be about saving us time and removing decision fatigue that prevents people from taking action. And this AI meal scanning feature is doing exactly that. Sign me up.

Peloton officially launches Strength+. A standalone fitness app designed for the gym. Using both audio and video components to guide you through workouts. Create custom workouts or choose from programs curated by Peloton Strength Coaches.

• Previously when they released the beta of this app, I said I liked the move. They needed to expand their business and offer a product with a lower price point. But after seeing the official launch, I’m pretty disappointed. The app feels somewhat basic and just seems like a pre-recorded workout library. It doesn’t have the same community and live trainer feel that their bike does, which is a big part why people like Peloton. Hopefully this changes, and they roll out more community features to gamify the experience and make it feel less lonely.

Ladder calls out Peloton for copying. As Peloton’s new Strength+ app has striking similarities to Ladder’s fitness app. Including similar app screen layouts and accent colors. But the craziest part? Ladder found 15 Peloton product, engineering, and design folks using the Ladder app over 1,500 times since January.

• Sorry Peloton, you’re on the hot seat this week. Now I know, there’s only so many formats a workout app can have. But when you’ve had over 1,500 sessions on the competitors app and then launch something with similarities like this, it’s not a great look… I mean Peloton, could you have at least used a different accent color? Maybe red, like your branding? Gotta tip my cap to Ladder, just an all time response from them (read this twitter thread). I’ll have a video out this week breaking down the entire feud, it’s a good one.

Athletic Greens unveils airport vending machines. Which will sell both travel packs of their greens powder and shaker bottles. Currently just in San Francisco, but coming soon to Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, and Oakland.

• This is a great sign for wellness products becoming more available in common places. High foot traffic areas, like airports, typically have unhealthy food, snacks, and beverages. But people are becoming more health conscious. And the brands and shops at these places know it. So I think we’re gonna see a big push of these types of products becoming more available in common places going forward.

Alex Cooper unveils Unwell Hydration. A functional beverage that is infused with electrolytes, B-complex vitamins, and green coffee extract. It will be available in three flavors including Strawberry, Mango Citrus, and Orange Hibiscus.

• Let me first say this, I am all for people getting their bag. Alex has earned it. And this next statement has nothing to do with her new product specifically. But can we please pause on new hydration brands in 2025? We have enough of them now.