Hannover Re US partners with fitness app Sweatcoin to research how physical activity mitigates mortality risks

A joint research project to study how daily physical activity can reduce the risk of disease and extend life expectancy has been launched by Hannover Life Reassurance (Hannover Re US), part of the Hannover Re Group, and Sweatcoin a digital health app.

The research will examine how exercise can cut the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, cancers and depression and will support the understanding of links between physical activity and mortality risks from a life insurance perspective. Previous studies have found that physical inactivity is a leading contributor to premature mortality.

Sweatcoin, which launched in 2015 as a health and fitness app, converts steps into a digital virtual currency, called sweatcoins, which users can redeem in its marketplace. The app company said its mission is to motivate people to be more physically active through immediate reward. It has more than 7 million active users in 42 countries. A 2018 study by the Institute of Digital Healthcare (at the University of Warwick) found that the app drives a 16 to 20 percent increase in daily physical activity among its users over a six-month period.

Tony Laudato, head of partnership solutions at Hannover Re US, said: “As a reinsurer, the opportunity to partner with a mobile app at Sweatcoin’s scale is exciting for us. The outcome of this research effort will have a valuable impact on our understanding of the connection between physical activity and mortality/morbidity risks.”

Oleg Fomenko, Sweatcoin’s co-founder, added: “Through our joint research initiative with Hannover Re, we look to uncover additional insights that will help us drive positive behavioral change when it comes to physical activity, ultimately making the planet a healthier place.”

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