Fitness trackers are not just another fashionable wear. They have become an important part of the lives of many nowadays. Be it in the gym or on a morning walk you will come across numerous people who use these devices on a daily basis.
Due to their growing popularity, the market is flooded with these devices to the extent that it becomes difficult for one to choose amongst them. The options available, from the sizes of these devices to the aesthetics and the parameters that they measure, vary considerably and so do their prices. All these factors will leave you bamboozled as to which device you need, which do you choose, and which fits in your budget.
Let us understand more about these fitness trackers and devices so that it becomes easier for you to make the correct choice.
What are Fitness Trackers?
Fitness trackers also called “activity trackers” or “wearable fitness devices” are a new type of technology. They are small hardwares that includes an application with tracking and monitoring fitness metrics such as distance walked or run, calories consumed, and in some devices heart rate and sleep tracking. These trackers are integrated into more easily worn equipment like wristbands, smartwatches, bracelets, etc.
The term “fitness tracker “is now used primarily for dedicated electronic monitoring devices that are synced, in many cases wirelessly, to a computer or smartphone for long-term data tracking. There are also smartphones with the independent ability to track.
Fitness trackers are the most sought-after dives for fitness enthusiasts as they allow the wearer to access information in real-time. Applications can be used in the fields of health, fitness, food, and aging. Further, it is also possible to automate the monitoring and recording of daily activities or fitness. This is a more comfortable and convenient method for fitness freaks than the old methods that required one to calculate the distance or run steps manually.
Apart from tracking the steps and activity levels, these devices also help in the accurate assessment of other fitness metrics like heart rate, calories burnt, and sleep patterns. (1)
The best activity life trackers on the market today are highly evolved cousins of pedometers. While pedometers have existed for decades now, with the advancement in sensory technology, they must only get better and better. However, assessment of heart rate and calorie expenditure is something very new to the world and involves too many complex and dynamic variables.
How accurate are these fitness trackers?
A study conducted in 2017 assessed the accuracy of seven commercially available wrist-worn devices in estimating heart rate (HR) and energy expenditure (EE) for activities including sitting, walking, running, and cycling. This study compared the devices with the golden standard of estimating HR and EE, that is ECG and indirect calorimetry, which were used simultaneously. In conclusion, most wrist-worn devices adequately measure HR in laboratory-based activities, but poorly estimated EE. (2)
As a practical takeaway, a fitness tracker can be a great tool to track our activity levels or even our heart rates to some extent. However, when it comes to estimating energy expenditure, their accuracy remains questionable.
Benefits of using Fitness Trackers
Behaviour changes
If you are a beginner who lacks motivation then fitness trackers may come in handy. Studies have shown that wearable smartwatches are associated with positive changes in terms of motivation and accountability. If you are someone who gets tired and leaves your workout halfway workout, these devices may also motivate you to complete your workout. (3)
Self-improvement
Fitness trackers can help you monitor your progress over weeks or months thus indirectly helping you get better and improve on your performance. Studies have shown that people who use fitness trackers were motivated to beat their own performance. (4)
Social tracking
Some fitness tracking devices can even help you share your exercise progress with your physician or with family members. Certain fitness trackers set out challenges to the users by comparing their performances with that of their friends or family members. Studies have shown that these challenges may help the user outperform their peers and elevate their fitness levels in the process. (4)
Beyond activity tracking
Some fitness trackers are equipped with keeping an account of your sleep to ensure that you get good quality sleep while some others may also remind you regarding your water intake. Certain fitness trackers ping you when you are seated at a place for a long time or you show a prolonged period of inactivity. This improves the quality of life of the user by helping them maintain an active lifestyle and promote healthy habits. (5)
Limitations of using Fitness Trackers
Distraction
As the fitness tracking devices keep giving alerts and reminders during the day, the sound of these may act as a distractor, especially if you are doing something important or attending a major event or a meeting.
Technical issues
Battery life can become an issue with fitness trackers. You may have to charge these devices before use. If you forget to charge them and the battery dies during your usage the device will be of no-good use till you charge it back again.
Accuracy
As stated earlier, fitness trackers may not be very accurate and some of the information may only be an estimate. Hence it is advised to not completely rely on them to monitor parameters like energy expenditure.
Cost factor
It is often seen that the fitness trackers which display more features are costlier than those with lesser features. You will have to understand your needs and requirements before investing in a fitness tracker for your purpose.
Technology has its pros and cons and it is up to us to balance the two. Fitness trackers are no different. You have to make sure that you use them for improving your life and not let them become a hindrance in your work.
Do you use any fitness tracker in your daily life to monitor your fitness activities? If yes, which? Let us know in the comments section below.
Authors:
Praveen Budhrani (INFS Faculty)
Dr Pooja Nilgar (Content writer and editor)
References
- Kaewkannate, K. and Kim, S., 2016. A comparison of wearable fitness devices. BMC public health, 16(1), pp.1-16.
- Shcherbina, A., Mattsson, C.M., Waggott, D., Salisbury, H., Christle, J.W., Hastie, T., Wheeler, M.T. and Ashley, E.A., 2017. Accuracy in wrist-worn, sensor-based measurements of heart rate and energy expenditure in a diverse cohort. Journal of personalized medicine, 7(2), p.3.
- Ryan, J., Edney, S. and Maher, C., 2019. Anxious or empowered? A cross-sectional study exploring how wearable activity trackers make their owners feel. BMC psychology, 7(1), pp.1-8.
- Becker, M., Kolbeck, A., Matt, C. and Hess, T., 2017. Understanding the continuous use of fitness trackers: A thematic analysis.
- Kaiser, D.W., Harrington, R.A. and Turakhia, M.P., 2016. Wearable fitness trackers and heart disease. JAMA cardiology, 1(2), pp.239-239.
