Generating an estimated £22.8 billion in 2020, up from £17.3 billion in 2010, the fitness and wellness sector is one of the UK’s fastest-growing. With joint supplements, sports equipment and gym memberships engrossing the market in recent years, there has been an influx of apps to help you achieve your goal. The NHS has the calorie checker to ensure you keep your calorie intake under control, while there are also apps such as Smokefree to help you kick your tobacco addiction.

With some health services either limited or shut down temporarily in 2020, many people have taken their wellness into their own hands. Here are some of the best health apps out there:

Commitment-free gym sessions with Esquared

Esquared is the perfect app for people looking to dip their toes back into gym sessions or those who don’t want to be tied down to a long-term contract. This app works in the same way as Uber in the sense that it allows you to find gym sessions and one-off classes in your area. The benefit of this app is that it’s non-committal and there are no subscription fees. Currently, it’s only available in London and Sydney, but keep an eye out in case it expands into an area near you!

Fast, virtual GP appointments with Babylon

If you’re struggling to make an appointment with your doctor, you can schedule a video appointment with an NHS GP through Babylon, available 24/7. Usually, you’ll be seen within two hours once you make your request, meaning that you no longer have to wait weeks for an appointment or attend a walk-in surgery. It allows the doctor to discuss your symptoms and, where necessary, you can show them your issues on camera.

Relive your childhood with Pokémon Go

We know, Pokémon Go is categorised as a game. But this app is also useful for getting people active. The popular game works by individuals needing to be active in the community to progress. According to Sport England, one in three kids in England takes part in less than 30 minutes of physical activity each day. This was described by Sports Minister Mims Davies as ‘simply unacceptable’. With games like Pokémon Go, this is a great way to get kids active and taking part in an activity they’d enjoy. It was even found that the original Pokémon Go was also helping to bring families together as parents and children were competing with one another as to who could catch the rarest monsters.

Get into running with Couch to 5k

Chances are, you’ve heard of this app – it’s an oldie but a goodie. Everyone who has wanted to improve their health and fitness has heard of the couch to 5k challenge. It’s ideal for those who don’t particularly have the fitness levels to take on marathons but want to increase their physical ability. Presented by Public Health England, it builds you up gradually with a mix of running and walking so that within nine weeks you should be able to run 5 kilometres (3.1 miles). There’s also a choice of five virtual trainers to help you on your fitness journey and keep you motivated.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Taking inspiration from Pokémon Go, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite uses virtual reality to help people increase their activity through gamification. For those who aren’t particularly a fan of the Pokémon franchise, this take based on JK Rowling’s creation could be ideal. It works by users having to complete a certain number of steps in order to open up treasure chests for more loot. Also, as magical creatures and characters spawn on the map in-game, you need to physically travel to move your character across the map. Like Pokémon Go, the game will be able to track your activity without even running the app. You’ll be able to track your steps without having the game open, and those who like to wear a Fitbit will more than likely agree that this can become a game in itself!

Improve your mental wellbeing with 7 Cups

As we know, wellness is about more than physical health only. Mental health has, rightly so, become a major topic of interest. Campaigns such as ‘It’s Okay Not to Be Okay’ are bringing our mental wellbeing into the forefront of the attention via the media. In the UK, approximately one in four of us will experience a mental health problem each year. Depression and anxiety are two of the most common issues. This American-based app helps anyone who feels isolated discuss their concerns and issues thanks to it connecting you instantaneously to one of its 160,000 trained volunteer listeners and licensed therapists. It’s anonymous, free, and confidential. It also allows you to participate in guided chats through group support discussion rooms.

With our smartphones, we have the ability to access so much more than social media, texting and gaming. They hold so much more value to everyday life, and with these five apps – as well as the many more available via app stores – you can make steps to reaching your goals and improving your quality of life.