Wearable Fitness Devices - interesting article

fit: in good health, especially because of regular physical exercise.

The title of the article is misleading.  To me there is a big difference between being "fit" and losing weight. I do believe my fitbit makes me more "fit". I believe my heart is much healthier than when I was a slug. My weight is exactly the same, but I know my body is healthier.

I wish this study would have done tests on the heart health of the people wearing them over a long period of time. I think that would have proven that more activity does indeed make us more "fit".

Many fitness trackers didn't have built in heart rate monitors during the study.  At that time, they would connect with a chest band and not track your heart rate through out the day so yes, the study needs updated with the newer technology offerings to see if there is better data.

I was not saying the tracker should be interpreting heart health, I was saying the people doing this study should have actually checked the people's heart health. EKG, stress tests, something. Don't tell me I am not going to be more healthy without doing any real studies on overall health. Weight is not the only factor that should have been mentioned.

I also love my fitness trackers and have several, too 

Interesting. I agree completely about incresed activity not helping with weight loss. That's no surprise at all.

But I know, without a doubt, my Fitbit keeps me more active than I would be without it. There are nothing but good things that come from more activity.

Everyone's response to a fitness tracker will be different.  I can readily admit I have a slight addiction problem with my numerous fitbit.  I have several of them and won't be without one.  I also have the aria scale that connects with the app.  I have no doubt that is has helped me get more fit.  I have no doubt that it has helped keep me on track with losing weight.  I use the sleep, resting heart rate, the fitness score to better myself.  I use my heart rate data while working out to know if I am pushing myself hard enough or if I need to push harder.  I know I am one person, but I love my trackers.  :-) 

I have had my Fitbit since the start of my journey, January  2015 and I will always have.  It's part of my new life.  That and MyFitnessPal app.  Consistently using both keep me accountable.  

I think it's a tool that's a natural fit for some people.

My dad was generally an active person, but when he was given a fitbit for Christmas one year, it gave him a solid number to look at each day (the 10,000 steps goal) and he's an engineer and resonates with solid numbers.

So in the evening when he is ready to relax and watch TV he checks his fitbit and if he's short on his steps, he goes to his basement and gets on the treadmill and makes up his shortage. So he's more active and in better shape with the fitbit than he was without it.

I think for some people, it really really helps. For some it doesn't much matter one way or the other. So really, falls in the category of "can't hurt, might help".