The ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang that targeted girls as young as 12 has been released from prison.

Shabir Ahmed, who was known as ‘Daddy’ by his victims, was jailed for 22 years in August 2012 for a raft of child sexual offences including rape.

This week his victims were told he would be released on licence and despite earlier promises, could not be deported due to a 55-year-old law.

The BBC understands the now 73-year-old left prison earlier and is now in secure accommodation, wearing a GPS electronically monitored tag.

Live at York Museum Gardens returns from Thursday, July 9, to Saturday, July 11, followed by the York Comedy Festival at the venue on Sunday, July 12.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (Image: Supplied)

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark will start this year’s festival, organised by the Leeds-based Futuresound group and York Museums Trust, with a sold-out headline performance on the Thursday.

The synth-pop duo from Wirral will be joined by Heaven 17 and China Crisis as well as rising star singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin.

Self Esteem (Image: Supplied)

Self Esteem will headline the gardens on the Friday.

The Mercy Prize nominated artist will be joined by London-based indie group the Big Moon, South African “future ghetto funk” pioneer Moonchild Sanelly and Nigeria-born now Sweden-based spoken word artist and musician Joshua Idehen.

Super Furry Animals will close the music festival on the Saturday.

The Welsh rock band will be joined by indie musician Baxter Dury, indie-pop’s Los Campesinos!, Nottingham-based alt-country band Divorce and Welsh Music Prize nominees Pys Melyn.

Super Fury Animals (Image: Supplied)

Gates open at 5pm for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Self Esteem, and at 4pm for Super Furry Animals.

Last entry is 8.30pm for all three days of the music festival with 10.30pm the event curfew for each show.

Set times for each act will vary per event, with attendees asked to check Live at York Museum Gardens’ social media channels on the day for the timings.

Attendees have also been told there is no readmittance to Live at York Museum Gardens after leaving the venue.

York Comedy Festival line up

Meanwhile, York Comedy Festival will see performances from Russell Howard, Ross Noble, Joanne McNally and more.

Gates open at 3pm for the comedy festival with last entry at 8.15pm.

Stage times for the comedy festival are:

• Russell Howard: 9.30pm – 10pm
• Ross Noble: 8.35pm – 9.05pm
• Joanne McNally: 7.40pm – 8.05pm
• Russell Kane: 7.10pm – 7.35pm  
• Suzi Ruffell: 6.15pm – 6.40pm
• Barry from Watford: 5.45pm – 6.10pm
• Jeff Innocent: 4.50pm – 5.15pm
• Nabil Abdulrashid: 4.20pm – 4.45pm

The box office at the festival will be located adjacent to the general admission entrance via Museum Street, while the newly situated premium ticket entrance is via Exhibition Square.

Russell Howard (Image: Supplied)

Live at York Museum Gardens’ premium area has been moved to a new location closer to the stage, with a ‘hang out area’ featuring seating, premium facilities and exclusive food vendors.

The premium area also has a first come first serve, free flowing ‘premium standing platform’ with a better view of the stage.

There is no allocated parking for Live at Museum Gardens, with attendees travelling by car recommended to park at nearby council car parks.

The site is half a mile to York railway station and also served by several bus stops.

York’s park and ride service is also adding an extra bus for Route No 2 for each event day, which travels from Museum Street to Grimston Bar. The last bus will depart from Museum Street at 22.45pm. The car park will be locked at midnight.

Third festival of its kind at historic venue

Live at Museum Gardens 2026 will be the third festival of its kind in at the historic venue, after York’s Shed Seven topped the bill for the first event in 2024.

The 2024 event marked the first time Museum Gardens had hosted live music since bands such as Roxy Music performed there in the 1970s.

Recommended reading:

Shed Seven, who rose to fame during Britpop, paved the way for future events at Museum Gardens that have been headlined by internationally renowned artists including Nile Rodgers and Chic.

Rachel Hill, project manager at Futuresound, said the group is “so proud of how Live at York Museum Gardens has grown”.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the changes we’ve made to the site this year, ensuring that everyone enjoys their time in such a beautiful space,” she said.

Rachel Hill, from the Futuresound group, with Jocelyn Palmer, from York Museums Trust, in Museum Gardens (Image: Dylan Connell)

“None of this would have been possible without the continued collaboration, trust and support of the team at York Museums Trust; the opportunity to put together such an incredible bill for the summer makes us excited for the future of our partnership.”

Tickets remain available for Self Esteem, Super Furry Animals and the York Comedy Festival. For more information about the festival and tickets, visit: https://www.futuresoundgroup.com/york-museum-gardens-events

I recently volunteered to teach some lessons in finance to pupils at a primary school. Over six sessions, I spoke to a group of ten and eleven-year-olds about things like value, savings, cost and risk.

The talks were not meant to turn the children into investors, or to teach them to price derivatives or read corporate accounts. They were simply designed to start discussions about everyday financial choices – what it means to spend and borrow money, to compare prices and plan ahead.

I told them that money involves choices and consequences. That if we spend today, we may have less tomorrow. That if we borrow money, there are rules about paying it back. Or that if prices rise, the same amount of money buys less stuff.

These are not advanced financial concepts. They are everyday occurrences.

The children were curious and often more financially alert than I expected them to be. They asked practical questions and responded especially strongly to examples involving everyday choices, such as saving for something they wanted or comparing prices when costs rise.

And the experience left me asking whether children should be being taught more about financial literacy at school as a vital life skill.

After all, rent, mortgages, loans, tax, pensions, savings, inflation, insurance and debt shape the lives of almost every household. A better understanding of how it all works can only be a good thing.

The issue is not that schools do nothing. Financial education already appears in parts of the curriculum in many countries, particularly through mathematics and citizenship lessons. But is this enough?

And there is plenty of evidence to suggest that improving financial literacy should be part of any education system which hopes to prepare young people for life and work in a changing society.

A study in Brazil for example, shows that school-based financial education can improve economic proficiency. And an experiment in Peru suggests that mandatory school-based financial education is highly effective.

By contrast, if financial literacy is left mainly to families, there is evidence that inequality gets passed on. This concern is consistent with “financial socialisation theory”, which shows that children usually get their financial attitudes and habits from their parents.

Financial fix

Of course, financially literate children do not always become financially secure adults. They may still suffer from low wages, high housing costs, insecure work or regional inequality.

But financial literacy can reduce vulnerability. Evidence from US high school education policies links exposure to personal finance education with better economic results for young adults, including fewer debt defaults and higher credit scores.

So a focus on financial education makes sense. It can help young people understand credit, compare prices, question online financial advice, recognise scams, plan savings and make more informed decisions when they start work.

Technology adds another dimension. The financial world that young people encounter is no longer limited to a bank branch or a family conversation at the kitchen table. It is embedded in platforms, apps and algorithms.

Children may be using online banking, contactless payments, subscriptions, buy-now-pay-later products and AI-generated content before they fully understand financial risk.

Teaching young pupils about finance and accounting reminded me that children are often more capable than adults assume. They may not know the terminology, but they understand fairness, choices, value and consequence. These are the foundations of financial reasoning.

If we want more financially resilient societies, we should not wait until young people are opening their first bank account, signing their first rental contract or taking on student debt to give them a decent grounding in understanding the financial world.

It should start much earlier, and governments should be ambitious enough to make financial literacy a core part of every child’s education.

Different vegetables contain their own unique set of vitamins that nourish the body, warding off everything from high blood pressure to the risk of cancer

Vegetables are extraordinarily good for you, supplying the essential nutrients our bodies require to remain healthy throughout our lives. Each vegetable boasts its own distinctive range of vitamins that nourish the body, helping to protect against everything from high blood pressure to the risk of cancer.

Certain vegetables are regarded as superfoods, meaning they are packed with compounds considered beneficial to health, such as antioxidants, fibre, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. According to a ranking of the world’s healthiest foods, the top-placed vegetable is Swiss chard, coming in seventh overall.

Also featuring prominently on the list is green beans. Green beans are a popular side dish accompanying many meals across the UK, from pies to meat and fish.

The BBC list notes that green beans, also known as string, snap or French beans, “are rich in saponins, thought to reduce cholesterol levels,” reports Surrey Live.

Advertisement

Awarded a nutritional score of 54 out of 100, green beans come in at number 73 on the list.

According to WebMD, green beans are also packed with fibre, which may help boost heart health by reducing your LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels.

They are additionally loaded with antioxidants, including vitamin C, flavonols, quercetin, and kaempferol.

Furthermore, a single cup of fresh green beans contains approximately 25% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C, around 15% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A, as well as 33% of your recommended daily intake of folate.

Shoppers can pick up a bag of green beans from Tesco or Aldi for just 85p.

The BBC’s list also features three different species of fish in its top 10.

The highest-ranking fish, coming in third place overall, is the ocean perch, a deep-water species sometimes referred to as rockfish, which is rich in protein and low in saturated fats.

The second healthiest fish on the list is flat fish.

Royal Mail will introduce the new delivery model nationwide by December, following a review of its Universal Service Obligation (USO) by communications regulator Ofcom.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail plays a vital role in connecting the nation through its one-price-goes-anywhere service.

“For many years, the Universal Service Obligation has required us to collect and deliver letters to every UK address six days a week.

“Following an extensive consultation process involving many stakeholders, Ofcom announced reforms to the Universal Service in July 2025.

“Letters remain an important means of keeping us connected but fewer are being sent these days.

“These changes to the Universal Service will help us deliver a more reliable and sustainable service for you in the future.”

Under the revised USO, second-class and non-priority letters will be delivered on alternate weekdays, Monday to Friday, with a new target of delivery within three weekdays.

Royal Mail has started distributing leaflets to households explaining the changes, which are expected to apply to all 1,200 delivery units by the end of the year.

First-class mail will continue to be delivered six days a week, Monday through Saturday.

Regulatory targets have also been lowered.

Royal Mail will now aim to deliver 90 percent of first-class letters the next day, down from 93 percent previously.

For second-class mail, the target drops to 95 percent delivered within three days, down from 98.5 percent.

Ofcom’s July 2025 report described the changes as essential, stating that “urgent reform is needed for the universal service to survive.”

The regulator noted that since the introduction of the six-day delivery obligation in 2011, annual letter volumes have more than halved, making the service increasingly costly to maintain.

Royal Mail has seen revenue from letters drop from £6.9 billion in 2008 to £3.7 billion.

The company estimates the new delivery model could save between £250 million and £425 million per year.

Natalie Black, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, said: “These changes are in the best interests of consumers and businesses, as urgent reform of the postal service is necessary to give it the best chance of survival.

“But changing Royal Mail’s obligations alone won’t guarantee a better service and the company now has to play its part and implement this effectively.

“We’ll be making sure Royal Mail is clear with its customers about what’s happening, and passes the benefits of these changes on to them.”

Ofcom has also launched a review into the affordability of stamp prices and plans to hold a public consultation next year.

Coronation Street fans have been left scratching their heads after spotting what they believe is a major mistake during Megan Walsh’s (Beth Nixon) upcoming trial, with many questioning how Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) has suddenly become a barrister.

The ITV soap is gearing up for the next chapter in Megan’s dramatic storyline, which sees her finally face court following the shocking events involving Will.

Over recent weeks, viewers have watched Megan’s behaviour become increasingly disturbing, with her actions towards Will prompting many fans to brand the character ‘vile’ and even call for her to be sent to prison.

Now, with her day in court arriving, another talking point has stolen the spotlight.

Rather than focusing solely on the outcome of the trial, viewers have instead become fixated on Adam’s role in the courtroom, with many insisting there’s one major problem.

Adam has long been established as Weatherfield’s resident solicitor, but in the latest scenes he’s seen representing Megan in court in what appears to be the role of a barrister.

The apparent switch hasn’t gone unnoticed.

One confused viewer wrote: ‘I didn’t know Adam Barlow was a barrister!’

Another quickly replied: ‘He’s not!’

Others questioned whether they’d somehow missed an important development in Adam’s career.

‘Since when did Adam become a barrister?!!’ one fan asked, while another echoed: ‘Have I missed a chapter here, since when was Adam a barrister?’

A fourth simply pointed out: ‘Adam isn’t a barrister, he’s a solicitor.’

One viewer, who claimed to have worked in the legal profession, suggested there could be an explanation but felt it hadn’t been properly addressed on screen.

‘They are struggling through it the best they can, no Adam is not a Barrister but a solicitor who all of a sudden has become solicitor advocate,’ they wrote.

‘When I worked in a big law firm in London we instructed Barristers, solicitors never stood in as Barristers despite the fees they charged which were eye watering.’

Another fan was even more critical, arguing the entire courtroom storyline lacked realism.

‘Such an unrealistic storyline. No way in the real world would a barrister be allowed to represent someone he knows, let alone go into the local boozer where the prosecutor’s family run the pub! Come on script writers, get your act together & write true to life court drama!’

While fans have labelled it a blunder, there may be more to the situation than first appears.

In England and Wales, solicitors can gain additional rights of audience and become solicitor advocates, allowing them to represent clients in higher courts. There’s also the separate route of transferring to the Bar, enabling a qualified solicitor to become a practising barrister.

However, if either of those routes applies to Adam, Coronation Street has yet to mention it on screen, leaving many viewers confused about exactly what qualifications the character now holds.

However, a spokesperson for ITV has confirmed that Adam’s role does allow him to make representations in court. They told Metro: ‘Adam is in fact a solicitor advocate who can defend in court like a barrister. This is the same as Imran and Dee-Dee previously. Adam has the same advocate qualifications.’

They also went on to advise that ‘Solicitors in England and Wales were granted extended rights to appear as advocates in the higher courts (such as the Crown Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal) when the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 came into effect in 1994. This legislation broke the historic advocacy monopoly held by barristers.’

That said, it does seem unusual for a neighbour and regular of the local pub that is ran by the prosecution to suddenly be representing someone in such a life-changing trial. It’s easy to see why viewers have been left questioning it. Of course, soaps often take a few creative liberties for the sake of the drama, so we do need to take things with a pinch of salt sometimes.

The legal debate comes as emotions continue to run high over Megan’s storyline itself.

Viewers have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks, with many insisting Megan deserves to be jailed following her treatment of Will. Her actions have sparked fierce discussion online, with fans branding her behaviour ‘vile’ and arguing she should face the full consequences if found guilty.

As her trial unfolds, the verdict is set to have huge repercussions for everyone involved.

But for many fans, it’s Adam’s unexpected courtroom role that’s proving to be the biggest talking point of all, with viewers hoping the soap will soon clarify exactly how Weatherfield’s familiar solicitor ended up leading the defence.

Whether the show addresses the apparent career change remains to be seen, but until then, fans are convinced something doesn’t quite add up.

MORE: EastEnders fans spot problem with very confusing Gray scene

MORE: Unexpected Casualty love story ‘confirmed’ for Jan and Siobhan

MORE: Sarah prison ending ‘confirmed’ in Coronation Street thanks to someone very close to her

The shop disappeared from Britain’s high streets after administrators announced the closure of its 56 shops in September last year.

The high street beauty retailer collapsed into administration earlier in September and had not been able to secure a buyer for its chain of stores in the UK.

Administrators at advisory firm Interpath said this meant it had made the difficult decision to close them down.

Bury’s store, at the Mill Gate Shopping Centre, had been left off previous closure lists but shut in September 2025, with Bolton’s store, in Market Place, already closed.

Savers, another health and beauty retailer, returned to the Mill Gate in March this year and saw crowds of hundreds of shoppers turn up for its opening.

Bodycare’s previous Market Place store in Bolton remains unoccupied.

Bodycare was founded in 1970 in Lancashire and sold beauty products, fragrances and other bathroom items.

Its stores were based in shopping centres and high streets in towns and cities across the UK.

Now Bodycare has announced it will reopen in 17 locations, with 15 to open within the space of one year.

Bury’s Mill Gate is on the list, along with Blackburn and Warrington, but not Bolton.

The full list is as follows:

–          Sheffield

–          Leicester

–          Derby

–          Brierley Hill

–          Bradford

–          Blackburn

–          Leeds

–          Bury

–          Livingston

–          Sunderland

–          Cwmbran

–          Gateshead

–          Glasgow

–          Luton

–          Warrington

–          Northampton

–          Wakefield

The retail company’s website states each store will have “its own in-store content creator studio” complete with good lighting that will be completely free to use.

The site states it is “a space to film, create, experiment, and finally make the content you’ve been dreaming about.”

Bodycare also promises it will continue to stock health and beauty essentials, along with K-beauty, fine fragrance and piercing studios.

By MICHAEL PAVITT, SPORTS REPORTER

Published: 10:38 BST, 2 July 2026 | Updated: 10:55 BST, 2 July 2026

DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre has been praised for his ‘dignity and devotion’ to the national team after the death of his father was announced following their World Cup last-32 defeat by England.

Advertisement

Desabre’s side had threatened to produce one of the biggest shocks of the tournament after taking an early 1-0 lead through Brian Cipenga.

England required a late Harry Kane brace to send them through to the last-16 at DR Congo’s expense.

Desabre had praised his team’s efforts in the match and during their World Cup campaign in his post-match press conference.

The press conference ended in unexpected fashion, as after confirming there were no further questions for Desabre, the DR Congo press officer then revealed the loss of his father.

Advertisement

‘Thank you but we are announcing that the coach has lost his father,’ the press officer announced in French. ‘So sincere condolences.’

DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre appeared stunned after a press officer announced the death of his father in a post-match press conference

Desabre had reportedly been informed prior to DR Congo’s last-32 tie against England, which ended in a 2-1 defeat

Advertisement

Your browser does not support iframes.

The public announcement to the media appeared to surprise Desabre, who looked towards the press officer in apparent astonishment.

Advertisement

Desabre ended the press conference by thanking the journalists, before glancing again to the press officer as they stood up to leave.

Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala reported following the press conference that Desabre had been informed of the loss of a ‘very close family member’ prior to the match.

Desabre was reportedly determined to lead the team in the last-32 tie, with the Frenchman being praised for his ‘devotion to Congo’.

Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga, DR Congo’s Minister of Sport, offered his condolences on social media to Desabre and praised his dignity during the World Cup.

Advertisement

‘Deeply touched by the grief that strikes our coach Sébastien Desabre,’ he wrote.

‘Even in the ordeal, his dignity and professional demeanor throughout the competition command the admiration of the entire Nation. 

‘I extend my most heartfelt condolences to him and his loved ones. Much courage, coach.’

Desabre was thanked for his devotion to DR Congo after he was reportedly determined to lead the team in the match despite the loss of his father

Advertisement

Desabre had focused on the performance of his team during his press conference and praised their display against England, who he described as ‘one of the best teams in the world’.

‘We’re disappointed because we believed in it,’ Desabre said. 

‘Perhaps we lacked a bit of experience towards the end, but that’s football. We learn, we continue to progress, and we continue on our path calmly. 

‘We fought like the Congolese people. We played good football today against one of the best teams in the world. That’s what we’ll remember. 

Advertisement

‘In Congo, there are good players who play with an impeccable attitude, and that’s important.’

How much is David Beckham set to pocket from his World Cup brand deals? Take on our quiz in our newsletter HERE 

By OLIVIA CHRISTIE, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 11:25 BST, 2 July 2026 | Updated: 11:34 BST, 2 July 2026

The Princess of Wales has wowed the Wimbledon crowds as she arrived at the Championships for the first time this year. 

Catherine, 44, smiled as she chatted to members of the public who had joined the queue for Wimbledon tickets in the early hours of this morning. 

Advertisement

She also helped out as she handed out grounds passes to tennis fans, some of whom had camped overnight in Wimbledon Park. 

During her time at Wimbledon today, Kate is expected watch a match on one of the outer courts, alongside Tim Henman.

They will also be joined by chair of the All England Club Deborah Jevans. 

Kate will also meet children from Shine Camera Club, a creative photography programme which supports children from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Advertisement

As a royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016, Kate is a regular fixture at the prestigious tournament.

She has attended most years since 2011, missing only 2013, when she was pregnant with Prince George, and 2020, when the tournament was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Princess of Wales helps out in the ticket office on day four of the Championships

Advertisement

The Princess of Wales has wowed the Wimbledon crowd as she appeared at the Championships for the first time this year

As a royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016, Kate is a regular fixture at the prestigious tournament

Kate speaks to the crowds during her visit to the Championships today 

It is unclear whether she will sit in the Royal Box on Centre Court today where third seed Iga Swiatek is due to take on Karolina Pliskova in the second round of the ladies singles. 

Advertisement

This will be followed by young French star Arthur Fils, 20, who is taking on Italian player Matteo Berrettini. 

Two-time Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will close out play on the show court with her match against American Caty McNally. 

Kate’s appearance at the Championships today comes just days after she completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday night.

She did the endurance event solo and was supported on the route by Mountain Rescue, with her family meeting her at the last stop at the base of Snowdon in Wales. 

Advertisement

Kate was last at Wimbledon for the men’s final last year when she handed Jannik Sinner the Wimbledon trophy following an enthralling four-set final. 

She was joined in the Royal Box today by her husband Prince William, eldest son Prince George and Princess Charlotte but Louis stayed at home.

The Princess donned her ‘Wimbledon bow’ – a brooch featuring the tournament’s iconic colours – which it’s believed she has worn every time she has visited Wimbledon.

Many people in the UK now use apps, smartwatches or wearable devices to track their physical activity. Fitness trackers promise to help users become fitter, happier and healthier versions of themselves. For many people, they can be useful: a nudge to move more, a way to notice patterns, or a reminder that activity does not have to happen in a gym.

But self-tracking devices do more than record behaviour. Through prompts, defaults, streaks, badges and automated feedback, they also shape it. There is good evidence that tracking can help some people become more active. But there are also growing reports of anxiety, shame and disordered eating among people who track closely.

This raises questions about how common these harms are and why they happen, which is what I have spent the past decade researching. Here are five reasons tracking can become harmful.

1. The fixation on steps

The 10,000-step target comes from a marketing slogan for a 1960s Japanese pedometer, and has no firm scientific basis as a universal target. Researchers continue to debate the ideal number, with some pointing to around 7,000 as a more realistic and beneficial target for many adults. Yet 10,000 steps remains widely treated as a badge of good health.

The trouble is that a single target cannot fit everyone. It can also distort what people think activity is worth. A tracker may misread wrist movement, or fail to capture cycling, swimming or strength training properly because these do not look like stepping.

This means trackers often privilege what they can easily count. Steps are visible, while strength work, mobility, Pilates, rehabilitation and recovery can appear less important, even though they may be exactly what someone needs. This can give users a skewed sense of what counts as worthwhile movement.

2. Movement loses its joy

The hardest part of becoming active is making it a habit that lasts. Chasing a target can work against that if it turns movement into a chore rather than something enjoyable. The point becomes closing a ring instead of noticing what your body can do.

Research suggests that repeatedly failing to meet goals can lead people to abandon both the device and the habits they were trying to build. Enjoyment helps habits stick, while external metrics can erode the internal motivation to move.

So the next time you head out, try leaving the numbers alone. Take a friend, put on a podcast, or call your mum. When you feel satisfied, go home. The activity still counts, and over time it may help you reach your goals without making the numbers the only measure of success.

3. The more-is-more approach

Many devices still make “more” feel like the default measure of success. The prompts are persistent, the summaries often feel like gentle reproaches, and the clearest currency is usually steps.

What this often misses is ability, skill and context. Do you know how much exercise you need? What kind of movement might cause injury? Can you interpret your own VO2 max data? These competencies are often taken for granted, but many people have never had the chance to build them.

Our research shows that people are most vulnerable to harm when they are left to manage with assumptions already made for them. They may hand their judgement over to the device and accept whatever it tells them. Yet the device may not know enough about whether you are recovering from illness, short on sleep, injured, newly active or pregnant to interpret today’s data safely.

4. The default user does not exist

Much of the design and marketing of these devices is aimed at a standard, average consumer. But research repeatedly shows that this person does not exist. We differ in our bodies, histories, goals and circumstances, so asking everyone to squeeze into the same mould is poor design.

The problem is the body imagined by the device: often able-bodied, non-pregnant, already confident with exercise and free to prioritise activity every day. Some defaults also follow narrow social norms, often built around male bodies, and amplify questionable ideas about health and beauty.

Think of BMI, which can penalise muscular bodies and treat perfectly healthy women’s bodies as problems to be solved. Similar assumptions can be baked into self-trackers when they nudge users towards weight loss by default or reinforce dated ideals about size and ability. At their worst, they can push some people towards over-exercising or under-eating, with real damage to body and mind.

5. It blames you when things go wrong

Sedentary living is a society-wide problem. Yet trackers often frame inactivity as a matter of individual willpower. That can draw attention away from the conditions that shape how much people move: safe streets, time, money, caring responsibilities, disability, local facilities and access to green space.

Many people report feeling pressure from the device. When life gets in the way of their targets, they may feel shame, failure, or give up altogether.

Research shows that people use these devices for a wide range of reasons and goals. That means support and personalisation are essential to making tracking safer. Devices should account for individual goals, experience and context rather than loading all responsibility onto the user, a familiar and unfair pattern across health and social care.

Some would call these harms unintended side effects. But they are also the predictable result of design choices that reward more, simplify health into scores and treat missed targets as personal failure.

For users, the first shift is to treat tracking as information rather than instruction. A watch can tell you what it has measured. It cannot tell you what your body needs today.

The bigger responsibility sits with developers. Trackers could place less emphasis on fixed step targets, make strength and non-step activity more visible, build in rest and recovery without guilt, and offer safer defaults for people with different bodies, abilities, health histories and goals.

None of this means abandoning the technology – it means refusing to let a made-up number decide whether movement has counted.