E-consultations with your GP, ovulation apps for tracking menstrual cycles, and smartwatches monitoring sleep quality have become everyday norms. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened health awareness worldwide, accelerating digitization and technology adoption.
With the pandemic's end still uncertain, health and well-being remain top priorities in 2022. As we adapt to living with the virus amid potential restrictions, exclusive data from Atida—a leading health and wellness platform—and industry insights reveal the trends set to dominate.
Two years of isolation have taken a toll on physical and mental health globally. Factors like stress, sleep, relaxation, nutrition, exercise, social connections, and emotions all interplay in our well-being. In 2022, holistic self-care—addressing every aspect—will gain traction. Expect innovations such as advanced wearables, AI chatbots, and apps like Being and Calm to lead this integrated approach.
Prevention is overtaking reactive cures. The beauty and personal care sectors are emphasizing skin health through routines featuring retinols, AHAs, BHAs, and Vitamin C—products like those from Skinfy dominated sales last year and will continue in 2022. This extends inward, with growing demand for vitamins and supplements. Atida's research shows one in five Dutch consumers plans to incorporate them, a trend bolstered by emerging studies on nutrients' role in disease prevention.
Online genetic testing and wearables are fueling personalized healthcare. Devices like the Apple Watch and Oura Ring track sleep, heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, offering lifestyle insights. Consumers now easily submit DNA or blood samples for analysis of genetic risks or deficiencies. This multi-billion-dollar consumer market outpaces science, promising further evolution.
Home delivery of medications and COVID self-tests was once rare; now, it's routine. Long pharmacy queues are giving way to convenient online drugstores. Need relief for a cold or test? Fast delivery services bring remedies or kits to your door—often in under 10 minutes.
