Ladder Enhances Fitness App with New Nutrition-Tracking Feature

Fitness app Ladder has launched a new nutrition-tracking feature designed to allow users to log their food intake seamlessly. The addition comes as the demand for advanced nutritional tracking capabilities continues to grow, with users increasingly seeking ways to integrate dietary habits with their fitness routines.

The new functionality, named Ladder Nutrition, enables users to input their food intake using various methods, including taking pictures, scanning barcodes, typing, or even describing their meals through voice commands. The app then estimates macronutrient composition—proteins, carbohydrates, and fats—allowing users to adjust portion sizes as needed. This integration provides a centralized platform for tracking both workouts and nutritional intake.

In a strategic move to enhance its offerings, Ladder has collaborated with a nutrition data provider to improve the accuracy of its food recognition technology. The company acknowledges that many existing AI food models predominantly rely on U.S.-centric data, which can lead to challenges in identifying international cuisines. By diversifying its data sources, Ladder aims to ensure users worldwide receive precise nutritional information.

Greg Stewart, CEO of Ladder, expressed enthusiasm about the new feature in a statement to TechCrunch, noting that the company has focused on delivering a solution that meets user expectations. “Nutrition was the next logical step for Ladder, and our members were pleading with us for it,” he said. “They wanted a simple, smarter way to connect what they eat with how they perform — and that’s exactly what Ladder Nutrition delivers.”

The app also incorporates gamification elements such as streaks, badges, and progress reminders to encourage regular food logging. This feature was developed in direct response to user feedback, which indicated a strong desire for integrated nutrition tracking rather than relying on separate applications.

Testing of the new food tracking functionality has yielded promising results, with approximately 70% of participants indicating they would consider switching to Ladder for their calorie tracking needs. This statistic highlights the potential market impact of the new feature on existing competitors like LifeSum, Healthify, MyFitnessPal, and MyNetDiary.

Ladder’s nutrition tracking feature is available free of charge to all members, who subscribe at a rate of $29.99 per month or $179.99 annually. The company boasts over 300,000 paid members globally, indicating a solid base of users who may benefit from this new functionality.

Looking ahead, Stewart hinted at future expansions of the nutrition tracking capabilities, aiming to provide more personalized guidance on nutrition based on users’ specific training habits and goals. “We will build on this foundation with features that offer more prescriptive guidance — what to eat, how to fuel, and how to optimize nutrition,” he stated.

As fitness enthusiasts increasingly seek integrated solutions for their health journeys, Ladder’s new nutrition tracking feature represents a significant step toward providing a comprehensive fitness experience. The app’s ability to combine workout tracking with dietary management positions it well within a competitive landscape, poised to meet the evolving needs of its members.