Althea · GLP-1 companion for iPhone
1. Who we are
Althea is an iOS application developed to help individuals track their GLP-1 receptor agonist medication journey. References to "Althea," "we," "us," or "our" in this Privacy Policy refer to the developer of the Althea application.
This Privacy Policy describes how we handle information when you use the Althea iOS app ("App"). By downloading or using the App you agree to the terms described here.
2. Data we collect and why
All data you enter into Althea is stored locally on your device and, if you enable iCloud, in your private iCloud account under your Apple ID. We do not operate servers that receive or store your personal health information.
| Data type | How it is used | Stored where |
|---|---|---|
| Display name | Personalise greetings within the app | On-device + iCloud (if enabled) |
| Height | Calculate BMI and progress metrics | On-device + iCloud (if enabled) |
| Medication & dosing details | Calculate active drug levels, reminders, injection-site rotation | On-device + iCloud (if enabled) |
| Body weight entries | Display trends and progress charts | On-device + iCloud (if enabled) |
| Body measurements | Track additional progress metrics | On-device + iCloud (if enabled) |
| Side-effect logs | Visualise symptom trends for personal review or clinician reports | On-device + iCloud (if enabled) |
| Food & hydration logs | Display daily nutrition and hydration summaries | On-device + iCloud (if enabled) |
| Goal weight & start weight | Calculate progress toward your goal | On-device + iCloud (if enabled) |
| Doctor appointment dates & notes | Generate appointment reminders and keep your own visit notes | On-device + iCloud (if enabled) |
| Progress stats (streaks, points, achievements) | Power in-app gamification; derived from the entries above | On-device + iCloud (if enabled) |
A limited summary — your next-dose date and dosing interval — is also stored in an on-device App Group so the Althea Home Screen widget can display your countdown. This never leaves your device.
Aside from the setup-screen record described in section 3, we do not collect crash analytics, advertising identifiers, device fingerprints, location data, or any form of behavioural tracking.
3. Onboarding analytics
When you first set up Althea, we record how far you get through the setup screens. This helps us find the places where the app is confusing, so we can fix them.
What we record
Which setup screens you were shown, the order you saw them in, and how long you spent on each one, together with a small number of non-medical answers: the reason you gave for using Althea, the colour theme and light/dark mode you picked, whether you chose kilograms or pounds, whether you allowed the Apple Health and notification permissions, and which subscription plan you selected. We also record your app version, device model, iOS version and language.
What we never record
None of your health information is included. Your weight, goal weight, BMI, height, age, sex, medication, dose and any medical conditions stay on your device and in your own private iCloud. They are never sent to us.
One thing this does reveal: because we record which screens you saw, and people who are not yet taking a GLP-1 medication are not shown the medication screens, this record indirectly indicates whether you told us you were already on a medication. It is a single yes-or-no, carried by the names of screens rather than by any medical detail.
How it is stored
The record is kept in Althea's own database on Apple's iCloud servers. It is not sent to any other company, and we do not use any third-party analytics service. It is labelled with a random code created on your device — not your name, email, Apple ID, phone number or advertising identifier. Apple also attaches an anonymous identifier of its own to records like this, which we cannot switch off and which does not tell us who you are.
Tracking
We do not track you across other apps or websites, and we do not sell or share this information. It is never used for advertising.
Deleting it
The random code is deleted when you delete Althea from your device. Deleting the app stops any further records being created.
4. Apple HealthKit
Althea integrates with Apple HealthKit. This integration is entirely optional, and iOS lets you grant or deny each data type individually.
- Write: With your permission, weight you log in Althea is written to HealthKit (as body mass) so your other health apps stay in sync. This is the only data Althea writes to HealthKit.
- Read: With your permission, Althea can read the following to display them alongside your medication journey and include them in reports you choose to generate: body mass, lean body mass, body-fat percentage, dietary energy (calories), protein, fibre, steps, walking/running distance, active energy, resting heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose, and sleep analysis.
HealthKit data is processed only on your device. We do not transmit HealthKit data to any server, we do not use it for advertising, and it is never shared with third parties. Per Apple's rules, HealthKit data is never used for marketing or sold to anyone.
You can review or revoke any HealthKit permission at any time via Settings › Privacy & Security › Health › Althea.
5. iCloud & CloudKit
If you are signed into iCloud on your device, Althea uses Apple's CloudKit framework to sync your data across your personal devices (iPhone, iPad). Your data is stored in your private iCloud database — accessible only to you and governed by Apple's iCloud Terms and Privacy Policy. We cannot access your CloudKit data.
You can disable iCloud sync at any time via Settings › [Your Name] › iCloud › Althea. Disabling sync does not delete existing data from your device; it only stops future synchronisation.
6. Third-party services
Open Food Facts
When you use the barcode scanner or food search feature, Althea sends the scanned barcode number or search text to Open Food Facts — a free, open-source food database. The query is made anonymously and no personal information is attached. Please review Open Food Facts' own privacy policy for details on how they handle query data.
Apple StoreKit
Subscription billing is handled entirely by Apple through the App Store. Althea never receives, stores, or processes your payment card details. Subscription status is verified on-device via StoreKit. Please refer to Apple's Privacy Policy for how they handle payment data.
No advertising SDKs
Althea contains no advertising SDKs, tracking pixels, social media embeds, or analytics services that profile your behaviour for commercial purposes. The setup-screen record described in section 3 is kept in our own iCloud database — no third-party analytics provider is involved.
7. Notifications
Althea may request permission to send you local push notifications for dose reminders and doctor appointment alerts. These notifications are scheduled entirely on-device using iOS's local notification system. No notification content is transmitted to external servers. You can disable notifications at any time via Settings › Notifications › Althea.
8. Subscriptions & payments
Althea offers an auto-renewing subscription managed entirely by Apple through the App Store. We do not collect or store any payment information. Subscription management — including cancellation — is handled through your Apple ID settings:
- On your iPhone: Settings › [Your Name] › Subscriptions
- In the App Store: tap your profile photo › Subscriptions
Apple may share limited purchase verification data with us (e.g. whether a valid subscription exists) solely to unlock premium features. This data contains no payment card information.
9. Data retention & deletion
Because your data is stored on your device and in your private iCloud, you control retention completely. You can:
- Delete individual entries within the app by swiping left on an entry in any of its lists (doses, weight, food, side effects, and so on).
- Reset all app data by deleting the Althea app from your device. This permanently removes all local data.
- Remove iCloud data by disabling iCloud sync and then deleting the app, or by managing your iCloud storage via Settings › [Your Name] › iCloud › Manage Account Storage.
Any PDF report you generate is created on-device and shared only when, and to whom, you choose. We do not retain copies of your data on any servers, so there is no separate data-deletion request required on our end.
10. Children's privacy
Althea is rated 13+ on the App Store and is not directed at or designed for use by children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. GLP-1 medications are prescribed medical treatments intended for adults; if you believe a minor is using the App without appropriate supervision, please contact your healthcare provider.
11. Your rights
Because we do not collect or process your personal health data on our servers, most traditional data-subject requests (access, portability, rectification, erasure) are fulfilled directly through your device and iCloud account. You always have full control and access to your own data.
If you are located in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, or California, you may have additional rights under GDPR, UK GDPR, or CCPA respectively. Given our architecture — no server-side data storage — those rights are inherently satisfied. If you have a specific concern, please contact us at the address below.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, for material changes, we will notify you via an in-app notice. Continued use of Althea after a policy update constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.
13. Contact us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or Althea's data practices, please reach out:
Have a question or concern? Reach out to our team and we'll get back to you within 5 business days.
support@althea.team