Remember waaaay back in December when you got that fitness tracker for Christmas and you made all those New Year’s Resolutions to exercise more and eat healthier? You don’t remember that? Well, you’re in good company; most resolutions fail by February and only 8% of people actually stick to these goals. However, fitness trackers are still gaining in popularity and show no signs of slowing down. Can a fitness tracker really help you to stay healthier?
When the original fitness trackers came out several years ago, their main feature was to count the number of steps that you would take each day. Modern devices have the potential to do that and so much more, but they all basically start out the same. The primary function of a fitness tracker is to measure motion. To do this, most come with a 3-axis accelerometer to monitor movement in every direction and some come with a gyroscope to measure orientation and rotation.The sensors that are in these tech tools measure the acceleration, frequency, duration, intensity and patterns of movement and then this information is then converted into data that can help you to know how far you’ve walked or how many calories you’ve burned. Some have sensor lights that illuminate your capillaries determine your blood pressure and others can monitor wrist movement to estimate how well you slept last night.
One in five people have a fitness tracker, but that doesn’t mean that all those people are using them. (Afterall, how many people are using their recumbent bikes as clothes racks more than for exercise?) Are these tech tools just a fad or do they really work?One study found that one-third stop using their tracker just six months after purchase. Some common reasons are that they are uncomfortable, people simply forget to wear them, the device isn’t that aesthetically appealing, or the person lost interest. If you’re thinking about buying a new tracker, make sure it looks stylish and feels comfortable to ensure that you’ll get the most out of your investment. A different study conducted by Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School enlisted 800 full-time employees to participate in a year-long study involving fitness trackers and incentives. They were divided into four groups and were given:
Can you guess which group was the most successful? The group receiving the cash incentive increased their daily steps and 88% of them were still using their Fitbits after six months (as compared to 60% of the Fitbit only and charity incentive groups). When the study was finished after one year, only 10% of the participants still used their FitBit.Here’s the bottomline: a tech wearable is only valuable for tracking positive and negative change if you wear it (no surprise there!). Finding one that you’ll enjoy wearing plus creating incentives and implementing peer support are the best ways to ensure success… with or without this tool.
