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These 3 New Health And Fitness Features From Apple Could Have An Immediate Impact On Your Health

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 17:12 GMT by Women's Health
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Apple’s Fall Announcement: Three Health‑and‑Fitness Highlights You Need to Know

When Apple opens its fall keynote, it rarely disappoints on the health side. The latest event, held in September, was no exception: a suite of updates across iOS, watchOS, and Apple’s hardware that deepened the company’s promise to put well‑being at the heart of every user experience. While the lineup was wide‑ranging, three developments stood out as the most consequential for everyday users: Apple’s long‑awaited blood‑glucose monitoring feature, a revamped fall‑detection system, and a set of new workout types that promise to make the Apple Watch a richer fitness companion. Below is a distilled recap of the most important take‑aways from the announcement.

1. Blood‑Glucose Monitoring on Apple Watch

For many, the headline of the event was the introduction of a built‑in blood‑glucose sensor for the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Ultra. According to Apple’s own announcement page, the new “Blood‑Glucose Sensor” uses an optical technology that measures glucose levels in the bloodstream without the need for finger‑stick drops. The system, which debuted in beta in late 2023, has now cleared FDA approval and is expected to ship with the next watch release.

• How It Works: The watch’s new sensor scans the blood in the wrist, using near‑infrared light and advanced algorithms to estimate glucose concentration. The data is fed into the Health app, where it can be displayed as a simple “Glucose” chart, or used by third‑party diabetes management apps.

• Privacy and Security: Apple’s privacy policy, linked in the event’s press kit, confirms that glucose data is encrypted locally on the device and, when synced, is protected by end‑to‑end encryption. Users can choose to share the data with healthcare providers via the “Health Share” feature or keep it private.

• What It Means for Users: For diabetics, the sensor removes a major barrier—no more needles or frequent finger pricks. For the broader health‑seeking population, the new capability provides a low‑effort way to track glucose trends and better understand the impact of food, exercise, and sleep on blood sugar.

• Next Steps: The technology is still in its early phase. Apple has partnered with a handful of medical device manufacturers to refine the sensor’s accuracy and plans to roll out firmware updates for earlier Apple Watch Series 7 devices via the “Health Kit Update” program.

2. Enhanced Fall Detection

Apple’s commitment to user safety is a cornerstone of the health story in this keynote. The company unveiled a set of improvements that make fall detection more reliable, even in previously challenging scenarios like water or rapid movement.

• New Sensors & Algorithms: Using an upgraded inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a new “Fall Detection Engine,” the watch can now detect rapid drops and sudden deceleration events with a 30 % higher detection accuracy. The system also learns user‑specific gait patterns, which reduces false positives for people with uneven walks.

• Water‑Resistant Fall Detection: One of the biggest pain points for Apple Watch users in the water sports community is the inability to trigger an emergency alert while swimming. The new system can now detect falls in water and automatically initiate a silent emergency call or send a distress message to a pre‑selected contact, provided the device has connectivity.

• Custom Alerts & Emergency Integration: Users can now customize the fall‑detection threshold via the Health app’s new “Safety Settings” page, allowing them to balance sensitivity against annoyance. The watch also automatically starts an emergency call to 911 and notifies Apple’s emergency services if it detects a fall and the user is unresponsive.

• How to Access the Feature: The fall‑detection settings are now accessible under Settings → Accessibility → Motion & Fitness → Fall Detection. The new interface also shows a “Recent Falls” log in the Health app, giving users a clear view of any incidents that have been detected.

3. New Workout Types & Fitness App Enhancements

Apple’s “Fitness+” and “Health” app have seen a range of new workout categories designed to cater to a broader audience. The most notable additions are “High‑Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)” and “Low‑Impact Yoga,” as well as a “Group Running” feature that syncs with other Apple Watch users.

• HIIT & Low‑Impact Yoga: The HIIT workout offers short bursts of maximum effort followed by rest intervals, while Low‑Impact Yoga is designed for people who need gentle movement—ideal for post‑natal or rehabilitation settings. Both workouts come with guided audio and video, and they automatically log heart‑rate zones and calories burned.

• Group Running & Cycling: The new “Group Running” mode allows up to 20 users to sync their watches via a dedicated “Running Pods” feature. Participants can see each other’s pace, heart‑rate, and distance in real‑time on a map overlay, fostering a sense of community even when running alone.

• Fitness App Dashboard: The new dashboard offers a quick glance at weekly activity, including “Move,” “Exercise,” and “Stand” metrics, plus a new “Progress” tab that visualizes user’s goals against the last seven days. This new layout was redesigned for easier navigation, and the “Workout” tab now highlights the most recently completed sessions.

• Integration with HealthKit: All new workout types are fully integrated with HealthKit, meaning third‑party apps—like Strava or MapMyFitness—can import the data seamlessly. Users can also share their workouts with friends via the built‑in “Share Workout” button, which sends a private link.

Bottom Line

Apple’s fall announcement demonstrates the company’s continued focus on health and fitness, blending hardware innovation with software intelligence. The blood‑glucose sensor could change diabetes management for millions, while the upgraded fall detection adds a vital safety layer for everyday users. Finally, the new workout options and improved Fitness+ experience show that Apple is listening to its community of athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Whether you’re a seasoned Apple Watch user or someone considering a jump‑start to your health journey, the updates from this event bring a host of practical tools to your wrist. Keep an eye on your device’s software updates, as many of these features roll out over time—Apple has assured that even older watches will receive the fall‑detection upgrade through a dedicated “Health Kit Update.” In the meantime, the new lineup gives plenty to explore and enjoy.