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The health tracker backlash is here – so ditch the data and set yourself free

37 0
07.06.2026

Has the optimisation rebellion begun? Something seemed to shift in the collective psyche recently when the world discovered the entrepreneur and podcaster Steven Bartlett’s reaction to having had “a couple of glasses of wine” on a school night.

Speaking with Chris Williamson (the Love Island alumnus turned “wisdom” podcaster, God help us), Bartlett had explained what happened when he decided to test the effects of drinking after a year of sobriety – a sombre catalogue of catastrophes recorded by his Whoop tracker (“#ad, #sponsor”). He slept less, ate poorly, skipped the gym and – prepare yourself – “podcasted worse”. “It ruined three days of my life,” he said, seemingly in earnest.

This little chat was just after Christmas, and maybe everyone was too full of goodwill to pick up on it, but last month the internet finally erupted in long-overdue mockery. Bartlett made such a meal of it, which I think particularly offended British sensibilities. I mean, I get it: I’m 51 and if I drink more than a thimbleful of gin – which would make a Sylvanian Families hedgehog mildly tipsy – my life is also ruined, but I eat crisps and make jokes until it passes, as is my patriotic duty.

But behind the “Chill out,........

© The Guardian