Fitness trackers like the Fitbit have been part of the health craze for several years now. Two claims are common for these devices:
- That they will improve fitness levels, and;
- Help people lose weight.
Recent studies have shown that these devices may improve the number of steps taken but fall short on helping patients lose weight or improve health. The study was performed at Duke-NUS Singapore Medical School. In general, knowing how many steps one takes has not translated to improved overall health.
Fitness Tracker Study
The study involved 800 adults, divided into four groups, and the interventions with the trackers lasted for six months. The goal was to boost activity to 50,000 to 70,000 steps a week. Three groups received trackers, and incentives to use the trackers varied and one group was a control group without the trackers. The control group was just given information on the benefit of exercise. The study lasted six months, and the groups given the trackers were successful at boosting their physical activity and maintained their activity the best at one year out. However, 90 percent of those with a tracker stopped using them by a year after the conclusion of the study. The most telling outcome was increased activity did not cause any improvements in blood pressure or weight loss.
The reality is that improved cardiovascular health and weight loss is more complex than just increasing the number of steps taken. Cardiovascular health has several components, to lower blood pressure one must have a degree of higher intensity aerobic conditioning. The heart rate must get to a high level to be effective at possibly lowering your blood pressure. Weight loss is extremely complex, and goes well beyond exercise. Fitness trackers like the Fitbit are best to be considered motivational devices. Everyone has a different reason for exercising. Some people are self motivated and just exercise because they want to and may have personal goals to achieve. Some people like to go to health clubs and find exercising a social pursuit. Others exercise for health reasons, such as controlling cardiac disease or diabetes. A fitness tracker allows some to maintain personal goals. Checking the amount of steps may keep a person going to meet their goals. However if your goal is better cardiovascular fitness or weight loss, it will take more than just walking a certain number of steps. If weight loss is a concern or cardiovascular fitness is your need, working with a physician or other professional may be beneficial for more guidance.