Why You Should Own Your Health Data

Your health data is some of the most personal information that exists. Where you went, what you ate, how you slept, your weight, your blood pressure—this data tells a story about you.

Who owns that story? You should.

The Data Ownership Problem

Many Apps Don't Let You Own Your Data

Common practices:

• Data locked in proprietary formats
• No export functionality
• Accounts can be terminated
• Data sold to third parties

When you track, you create value. Some apps capture that value for themselves.

Why This Matters

Continuity: If an app shuts down or you want to switch, your history could be lost.

Privacy: Your health data could be shared without meaningful consent.

Control: You can't use your own data freely if it's trapped in one app.

Key Insight: Health data is personal. Personal data should be controlled by the person it describes.

What Data Ownership Means

You Can Export Anytime

Export your data whenever you want:

• Standard formats (CSV, JSON)
• Complete history
• No restrictions

You Can Delete Your Data

Request deletion:

• Your data removed from servers
• No hidden retention
• Verifiable removal

Your Data Isn't Sold

What your data should NOT be used for:

• Advertising
• Insurance profiling
• Third-party sales
• "Anonymous" aggregation that's identifiable

You Control Sharing

You decide who sees your data:

• Share with your doctor by choice
• No automatic sharing
• Explicit consent required

The Trendwell Approach

You Own Your Data

Export: Anytime, any format

Delete: Request full deletion anytime

Privacy: We don't sell your data

Transparency: Clear about what data exists and how it's used

No Lock-In

If you want to leave:

• Export everything
• Take your history
• No penalties

We earn your continued use, not trap you.

Privacy by Design

Minimal collection: We only collect what's needed for the service

Local processing: Where possible, analysis happens on your device

Encryption: Your data is encrypted at rest and in transit

No tracking: We don't track your behavior for ads

Why Other Apps Don't Do This

Business Models Conflict

Ad-supported apps: Your data is the product. They need to monetize you.

"Free" apps: If you're not paying, you're being sold.

Venture-backed apps: Growth at all costs often means data exploitation.

User Lock-In

Some apps want you trapped:

• Hard to leave = continued engagement
• Your data as hostage
• Switching costs keep you paying

Questions to Ask Health Apps

Before trusting an app with your data:

1. Can I export my data? In what formats?
2. Can I delete my data? Will it actually be removed?
3. Is my data sold? To advertisers, insurers, anyone?
4. What happens if the app shuts down? Do I lose everything?
5. Who can access my data? By default? By my choice?

If answers are unclear, be cautious.

Protecting Your Health Data

Choose Wisely

Use apps that:

• Allow export
• Don't sell data
• Have clear privacy policies
• Let you delete

Export Regularly

Even with trustworthy apps:

• Regular backups
• Local copies
• Insurance against any issues

Read Privacy Policies

Look for:

• Data sharing practices
• Third-party access
• What happens at account termination

Use Strong Accounts

• Strong passwords
• Two-factor authentication
• Secure email for recovery

The Future of Health Data

Standards Are Emerging

Industry moving toward:

• Interoperable formats
• User-controlled sharing
• Portable health records

Regulation Is Growing

Laws increasingly require:

• Export rights
• Deletion rights
• Consent requirements

Users Are Demanding More

People are recognizing:

• Their data has value
• They deserve control
• Privacy matters

The Bottom Line

Your health data should be:

1. Exportable: Take it anywhere, anytime
2. Deletable: Remove it when you want
3. Private: Not sold or shared without consent
4. Yours: You control who sees it

This isn't radical—it's how it should always have been.

Next Steps

• Read: Exporting Your Data from Trendwell
• Read: Inputs vs. Outcomes: A Better Way to Track Health
• Check: Your current apps' data practices
• Export: Regular backups of important health data
• Advocate: For data ownership in all health tools

Your health. Your data. Your control.

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Last updated: January 2026