Wearable Devices Aren't Always Reliable for Health Tracking

Wearable devices used to count calories, add steps or track fitness progress may not be the most reliable way to get healthy, a new study reports.

While the market for digital wearables like the Apple watch or the FitBit is growing exponentially, consumers should check their enthusiasm, say researchers from Lancaster University.

"Devices are marketed under the premise that they will help improve general health and fitness, but the majority of manufacturers provide no empirical evidence to support the effectiveness of their products," the team wrote in PLOS Medicine.

Evidence is anecdotal

According to the study, about one-third of users stop wearing these types of devices after six months, and half have abandoned them after one year.

One area where wearable technology might be more effective is for patients with chronic conditions, like diabetes or heart problems.

"Wearables could effortlessly provide detailed longitudinal data that monitors patients' progress without the need to involve more sophisticated, uncomfortable and expensive alternatives," said Dr. David Ellis, study author.

The other problem is that accuracy between different types of wearable devices isn't consistent.

"Recent comparisons between various wearables for tracking physical activity showed large variations in accuracy between different devices - with error margins of up to 25 percent," the team wrote.

Source: Lancaster University
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