Activity trackers and pedometers have a beneficial impact on our movement habits and consequently on our body weight. On November 7th, a kinesiology researcher completed a PhD on this topic, showing that trackers are indeed effective.
Twenty trackers were studied, and their accuracy was assessed. Most devices proved reliable, although they often struggle to measure slow walking speeds accurately.
In people with overweight and/or type 2 diabetes, trackers were shown to have a positive effect on physical activity and weight loss. The majority of participants with type 2 diabetes also experienced a decrease in blood glucose levels.
Self-monitoring technology allows us to track not just how much and how actively we move—and rest—but also weight changes. However, usage of these devices tends to decline over time. Causes include battery life and the novelty wearing off. People tend to use trackers longer if they have a specific goal, like losing 5 kilograms, sleeping more, or moving for an hour each day.
On your smartphone, you can often find simple step-counters, and apps that even track sleep. Wrist-worn activity trackers offer more options: continuous heart-rate monitoring, stair-step counting, or even built-in GPS.