# Women-Focused Optimisation Era Studies KIC Releases Surprising Survey Data About the Industry By Kalin Ned | Published 2026-07-20 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/optimisation-era References: [insider.fitt.co](https://insider.fitt.co/press-release/the-optimisation-era-has-a-hidden-cost-new-kic-data-reveals-it/)  KIC, a leading Australian wellness brand co-founded by Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw, has released new survey data from hundreds of women revealing that the optimisation era — which is characterized by [wearable technology](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oura-ring-41), biohacking, [sleep scoring](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nc-sleep-insights), and relentless self-monitoring — is having a counterproductive effect on mental wellbeing. As part of this study, 97% of respondents reported pressure to optimize their health, and four in five stated that checking a health metric has ruined their mood for the day. Additionally, KIC's research found that 51% of women said tracking their health makes them feel anxious or overwhelmed, while an equal proportion reported feeling more isolated rather than connected, and 42% admitted they are tracking simply because they feel they should. Image Credit: KIC ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.3/10 - Popularity: 59% | Activity: 46% | Freshness: 84% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Anti-optimization Wellness:** Wellness platforms are shifting from performance tracking toward emotional balance, creating space for products that reduce pressure while still supporting healthy routines. - **Mood-aware Wearables:** Wearable technology is evolving to account for psychological impact, highlighting opportunities for metrics that adapt feedback based on stress, anxiety, and user context. - **Gentle Health Tracking:** Simplified tracking experiences can replace constant self-monitoring with softer insights, opening pathways for tools that prioritize reassurance over comparison. ### Who This Affects Most - **Digital Wellness:** The digital wellness sector is being reshaped by demand for less intrusive experiences that support mental wellbeing alongside physical health. - **Wearable Technology:** Device makers face growing interest in features that interpret biometric data with greater sensitivity to emotional outcomes and user fatigue. - **Femtech:** Women-centered health brands can differentiate through research-backed services that address anxiety, isolation, and social pressure within optimization culture. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Continuous Hormone Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clair.md) - [Stress Tracking App Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stress-score.md) - [Smart Perimenopause Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perimenopause-wearable.md) - [Female Athlete Wellness Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Optima-Program.md) - [Cycle-Aware Wellness Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wellnesspal.md) - [Wellness Tracking Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/track-well.md) - [Passive Health Monitoring](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Passive-health-monitoring.md) - [Perimenopause Management Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oura-perimenopause-checkin.md) - [Optimization-Focused Digital Workforce Models](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digital-workforce-model.md)