Activity trackers are more advanced than ever. They can measure your heartbeat, blood oxygen level, calories burnt, and how long you sleep or exercise. They can “talk to” your smartphone or smart machines at the gym and connect you with workout videos, recipes, or guided meditation. Do trackers encourage you to exercise more? The results of studies on this topic have been mixed. A study published in the August issue of Lancet Digital Health revealed that wearing a tracker can be motivating. Scientists evaluated the data of almost 400 studies conducted around the globe, which involved 164,000 participants from all walks of life and with varying levels of health. The findings suggest that wearable trackers encourage people to walk for 40 minutes more per day. This results in a weight loss of about 2 pounds per person over five months. Wearing a tracker may also lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. It’s not clear that trackers caused the increase in activity. Using a tracker won’t harm you, and it may even motivate you to exercise more.
Disclaimer:
Harvard Health Publishing offers its readers access to the library of archived material. Please note when the last article was reviewed or updated.
This site’s content, no matter how old it is, should never be substituted for medical advice directly from your doctor.
