Technology is reshaping how we understand, manage and enhance our health and well-being in ways that were previously unimaginable.

Technology not only improves diagnostic capabilities and supports the development of new therapeutics but also reshapes our daily wellness routines. Exercise apps and online Pilates classes are just the beginning. For example, virtual reality headsets transform routine workouts into an engaging game, and platforms like Peloton build community and accountability among users — a key driver of sustained practice.

Wearable devices such as Fitbits track a wide array of health metrics that enable us to monitor our heart rate, blood pressure and sleep cycles, offering insights that can lead to healthier habits. Technology also enables us to easily tailor treatment, exercise and nutrition to individual needs, making it possible, for example, to send your day-to-day food intake to a provider for personalized feedback.

One of the greatest health-related gifts of technology is access to information that enables us to advocate for our health from an informed perspective. Technology can also support preventive health, recommend whether we need to see a health care provider and even facilitate the scheduling of an appointment. More than that, it’s aiding scientific breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of numerous illnesses.

Telemedicine and telehealth capabilities make it easier than ever to access mental health care, which was particularly important during the pandemic when rates of anxiety and depression soared. In my research investigating treatments for depression, I’ve seen firsthand the power of technology to not only reduce stigma around mental health, but also reach those who previously lacked access to interventions. Technology facilitates meaningful relationships among individuals, enhancing their support networks.

While there are legitimate concerns about technology’s role in promoting sedentary behaviors and its potential negative effect on mental health through increased screen time and social media use, I contend that the overarching benefits, particularly in health care innovations and wellness tracking, cannot be ignored. By enhancing the accessibility, enjoyment and effectiveness of health care services and promoting activities conducive to well-being, technology is playing an indispensable role in fostering a healthier society.

When we consider technological advancements that have had the biggest negative impacts on health, we generally think of televisions and smartphones. I contend that these technologies are making us less healthy primarily because they encourage us to engage with a much earlier invention that dangerously impacts our health: the chair.

For nearly 2 million years, ancestral humans sat, kneeled and squatted on the ground, using their muscles to balance and adjust their posture in constant motion. Around 5,000 years ago, humans invented chairs, which allow us to rest with little to no muscle activity and very low energy expenditure. Because of this, long periods spent sitting are linked with a wide range of diseases and have become a major focus of public health research. While the comfort of chairs may be enticing on its own, an increase in screen-based activities is compelling us to spend more time sitting than ever before.

Many of our jobs have become deskbound and computer-based. The reserach indicates that due to our greater reliance on technology, we are less physically active in our workplaces, and this may be associated with increased obesity. Additionally, in just the last 20 years, leisure time sedentary behavior in adults and adolescents in the United States has increased by 20% to 25%. Technology may be a key contributor to this trend.

Across our lifespan, TV viewing accounts for a large proportion of sitting time and is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even mortality. Smartphone use also contributes significantly to prolonged sitting, exacerbating risks to our cardiometabolic health.

Our own research suggests that sitting may also affect brain health, but modern technology influences how these effects manifest. For example, we discovered that not all sitting behaviors have the same impact on the brain: Mentally passive activities, like watching TV, are associated with an increased risk of dementia, whereas engaging in mentally stimulating activities, such as using a computer, may actually protect against these declines in brain health.

In addition, numerous studies have demonstrated that using smartphones, which we often do while sitting, can negatively impact mental health. For example, longer times spent in screen-based sedentary behaviors, but not total sedentary time, are associated with worse mental health in college students. These links between screen-based sedentary time and mental health are consistent across the lifespan but may be most concerning in adolescents.

So, what can we do about this? While we crave comfort for good reason, challenging ourselves to sit less is one way to improve our heart and brain health, and turning off our devices will minimize the temptation to sit. When we are sitting, engaging in cognitively active, constructive behaviors can either mitigate some of the negative aspects of sitting or even provide brain benefits.