Five things you need to know about fitness trackers

Most modern fitness trackers are wrist-worn electronic devices that track steps, overall physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. They usually work with a smartphone app or website that allows you to track your progress over time using charts and numbers. Advanced fitness trackers can also record heart rate and GPS-related results such as route, speed and distance.

People can stay active without using fitness trackers, but their self-monitoring features help them set realistic goals and track their progress. Self-control is effective behavior change technique.

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

1. Fitness trackers are short-term

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

Of the few rigorous, randomized, controlled trials of advanced fitness trackers, most have shown positive short-term results. For example: test comparing people using pedometers with people using Fitbits, they found that Fitbit users were 62 minutes more physically active per week. Other studies also found that people using fitness trackers took significantly more steps compared to people in the control group, but they only measured results in the short term.

2. For long-term results, fitness trackers work best in combination with other strategies

Too few studies have examined how people use fitness trackers for longer than three months to determine whether they work in the long run. Numerous reports suggest that many people will soon stop using them. Reasons include the need to repeatedly charge and sync your device to an app or website.

More importantly, fitness trackers must be part of it overall behavior change strategy promoting lifelong fitness habits. But this most often doesn’t happen.

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

AND high-level research found that financially rewarding people for using fitness trackers did not improve their health in the long term. However, such extrinsic rewards are not a strong behavior change strategy because they do not enhance motivation continue operating after incentives are removed.

Therefore, behavioral support through fitness trackers is needed to develop healthy activity habits throughout life.

3. The basic functions of the fitness tracker are accurate

Several reviews indicate that most fitness trackers provide valid and reliable measures of physical activity, such as counting steps and minutes of activity. Most users consider step counting as most important function fitness trackers.

However, these reviews also indicate that energy expenditure, calorie count, and sleep measurements are less accurate. This is not necessarily a problem for recreational users as measurement error usually occurs consistent. This means you can still accurately judge whether you’re making progress because the device always overestimates or underestimates in the same way.

4. Fitness bands affect your mood

Some people report feeling guilty or naked when not wearing a fitness tracker; others suggest maybe destroy their relationship with your doctor.

However, there are many studies showing that strong positive effects regular physical activity on mental health, including improving mood, quality of life, stress levels, anxiety and depression. Although there is no direct evidence, it is likely that the positive mental health effects of being active outweigh the potential negative mental health effects of wearing fitness trackers.

5. Despite media reports, fitness trackers will remain on the market

Recent article highlighted the financial woes of market leader Fitbit and other companies such as Jawbone. Sales are declining and profits are declining. Many people believe that fitness trackers are a temporary fad.

We don’t think this will happen; global wearable devices market is forecasted grow to over $34 billion annually by 2019. More importantly, fitness trackers continue to evolve rapidly, with various brands developing new models with improved features and performance. In a dynamic and rapidly changing environment, it is difficult to stay on top as a market leader.

Healthcare professionals also like to use fitness trackers for specific patient groups, such as those in recovery breast cancer or have hemodialysis. This shows the potential of integrating tracking devices into the healthcare system.