Five Things You Need to Know About Fitness Trackers

Most up-to-date fitness trackers are wrist-worn electronic devices that track step count, overall physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. They typically work with a smartphone app or website that lets you track your progress over time using graphs and numbers. Advanced fitness trackers can also record heart rate and GPS-related metrics like route, speed, and distance.

People can be busy without using fitness trackers, but their self-monitoring features aid set realistic goals and track progress. Self-monitoring is effective behavior change technique.

So let’s look at the evidence surrounding these trackers.

1. Fitness trackers work in the tiny term

Basic pedometers (mechanical step counters) have been around for a long time, and when people utilize them, their activity levels increase. Today’s fitness trackers are basically fancy pedometers. So there’s no reason to think their extra features and functionality make them less effective.

Of the few stringent, randomized, controlled studies of advanced fitness trackers, most have shown positive short-term results. For example, test A comparison of people using pedometers with those using Fitbit devices showed that Fitbit users were 62 minutes more physically busy per week. Other studies It also found that people using fitness trackers took significantly more steps compared to those in the control group, but the results were only measured in the tiny term.

2. For long-term results, fitness trackers work best when combined with other strategies

Too few studies have looked at how people utilize fitness trackers after three months to determine whether they work in the long term. Numerous reports suggest that many people will soon stop using them. Reasons include the need to repeatedly charge and sync the device with an app or website.

More importantly, fitness trackers need to be part of overall behavior change strategy promote a lifelong fitness habit. But that usually doesn’t happen.

For example, one workplace survey showed that physical activity increased after 12 months when fitness trackers were combined with organizational support in the first three months. The support included educational information, goal setting, social support, and team challenges.

AND a study of great importance showed that when people were financially rewarded for using fitness trackers, it did not improve their health in the long run. However, such external rewards are not a powerful behavior change strategy because they do not escalate motivation necessary to continue operating after incentives are removed.

Therefore, to develop robust lifelong physical activity habits, behavioral support using physical activity monitors is needed.

3. The basic functions of the fitness tracker are correct

Several Opinions indicate that most fitness trackers provide reliable and trustworthy measurements of physical activity, such as counting steps and activity minutes. Most users consider step counting to be the most important function physical activity monitors.

But these reviews also indicate that energy expenditure, calorie counts, and sleep measurements are less correct. This is not necessarily a problem for recreational users, as measurement error tends to consistent. This means you can still accurately gauge whether you’re making progress, as the device always overestimates or underestimates in the same way.

4. Fitness trackers affect mood

Some people report feel guilty or naked when they don’t wear their fitness tracker; others say it can hurt their relationship with their doctor.

However, there is much research that confirms this. strong positive effects regular physical activity on mental health, including improved mood, quality of life, stress, anxiety, and depression. Although there is no direct evidence, it is likely that the positive effects of physical activity on mental health outweigh the potential negative effects of wearing fitness trackers.

5. Fitness trackers are here to stay, despite media reports

Recent article has highlighted the financial problems of market leader Fitbit and others like Jawbone. Sales are slowing and profits are falling. That has led many to believe that fitness trackers are a passing fad.

We don’t think that will happen; the global wearables market is forecasted to grow grow to over $34 billion annually by 2019. More importantly, fitness trackers continue to evolve rapidly, with various brands developing recent models with improved features and performance. It is hard to stay on top as a market leader in a vigorous and rapidly changing environment.

Healthcare professionals are also keen to utilize physical activity monitors for specific patient groups, such as those recovering from breast cancer or having hemodialysis. This shows the potential of trackers to be integrated into the healthcare system.