How Helpful Are Fitness Trackers?
If you have just purchased a fitness tracker, it might be difficult to know how to use it to its fullest potential. You might be wondering why you would need to know how much sleep you are getting, how many calories you are burning, or how much exercise you have been doing. The good news is that you do not have to be a doctor to understand the importance of tracking your daily habits. In fact, a fitness tracker will not only help you reach your health goals, it can also be a fun way to get some extra exercise in.
Calories
High-tech wristbands promise to measure everything from stress to calories burned. But how accurate are they?
Research on fitness trackers has been underway for years. The best fitness trackers rely on complex algorithms to calculate how much energy is being expended. However, some devices overestimate and underestimate energy expenditure. This is why it is important to understand the factors that affect the accuracy of tracker data.
In order to determine how reliable a fitness device is, researchers must compare its data against the data of clinically approved medical devices. Typically, this involves asking a person to drink specially treated water or locking them in a room to monitor their energy output.
For the study, researchers recruited 60 volunteers and tracked their heart rate and energy expenditure. These data were then compared with the results of seven wrist-worn fitness trackers.
Sleep patterns
Fitness trackers that track sleep provide information about your overall sleep duration. The data can help you to determine whether you're waking up early or have a lot of interrupted sleep. In turn, it may prompt you to rethink your schedule or reduce your intake of caffeine late in the day.
These devices can also be helpful for diagnosing sleep problems. If you're not getting enough sleep, you might be prone to having moodiness and reduced energy. It's always a good idea to consult a doctor if you're experiencing these symptoms. They'll be able to run a series of tests to find out exactly what's going on.
You can also try wearing a fitness tracker to get a sense of how many minutes of REM and deep sleep you're getting per night. However, most new wearables only have a 50 percent accuracy rate.
Steps taken
Fitness trackers measure steps taken using sensors. These include accelerometers and gyroscopes. Most trackers also use a combination of air pressure and motion sensors to detect motion. The data generated by these sensors are then analyzed by the step counter.
Depending on the model, fitness bands can over or undercount your steps. While most trackers are fairly accurate, there are instances where inaccurate results can lead to a false sense of accomplishment.
Many of the most popular fitness bands are now using MEMS sensors, which are more precise and inexpensive. These sensors allow for a more accurate detection of steps. However, these devices also generate a large amount of data.
Some of these trackers are designed to provide you with information about your fitness level, while others are designed to help you meet specific goals. These trackers can be clipped to your wrist, neck, or even pocket. In addition to providing a more accurate method of counting your steps, they can also encourage you to stay active.
Connect to an app on your phone
If you are considering using a fitness tracker to improve your health, you should know how to connect it to an app on your phone. The app can show you how many calories you burned or how much sleep you had. It can also record your heart rate.
Fitbit is the world's leading app for tracking activity. With a free membership, you can upload photos and preferences, set up targets, and more. You can use the app to see the stats for your recent workouts, previous months, or your whole week.
You can choose to share your information with others. You can also set up a schedule to receive notifications when you are supposed to move.
Connect with friends
It's no secret that many of us have fitness trackers on board. Using one of these bad boys can help you stick to a regiment and prove you have a pulse. A good one has some nifty features including a heart rate monitor and a handy sleep tracking capability. On top of all this, you can get a bit of friendly competition in the form of friends or family who are more inclined to push the envelope when it comes to fitness. If you're the type who loves a challenge, this is the best way to go. So, are you ready to jump on the bandwagon? Just download your favorite tracker and get started.