DO WEARABLE LIFESTYLE ACTIVITY MONITORS WORK
Wearable electronic
activity monitors hold great promise in helping people to reach their fitness
and health goals. These increasingly sophisticated devices help the wearers
improve their wellness by constantly monitoring their activities and bodily
responses. This information is organized into companion computer programs and
mobile apps.
Given the large and
quickly growing market for these devices, researchers at the University of
Texas Medical Branch at Galveston analyzed 13 of these activity monitors, such
as those made by Fitbit, Jawbone or Nike, to compare how the devices and their
companion apps work to motivate the wearer.
The researchers
found that while many of these devices' apps were in line with recommendations
from the health community, several are missing aspects that are important for
reaching goals. In the end, device selection is dependent on the user's
personal needs and preferences.
This research
highlights similarities between the devices and the methods used by health care
providers with their patients. This study was recently published in the Journal
of Medical Internet Research.
"Despite their
rising popularity, little is known about how these monitors differ from one
another, what options they provide in their applications and how these options
may impact their effectiveness," said Elizabeth Lyons, senior author and
assistant professor at UTMB's Institute for Translational Sciences. "The
feedback provided by these devices can be as, if not more, comprehensive than that
provided by health care professionals."
These devices
improve on standard pedometers by measuring and providing feedback on several
health/fitness dimensions including calories burned, type of exercise activity
undertaken, sleep quality and measurements of heart rate, skin sweat and body
temperature. Many, including Jawbone, Fitbit and Nike, have goal-setting and
progress feedback, social support, and an array of easy-to-read charts and
progress trackers based on the users' individual goals.
The research team
investigated 13 commercially available activity monitors, including devices by
Basis, BodyMedia, Misfit, Fitbug, Ibitz, Polar and Withings, to detail what
tactics they use to promote healthy and fit behaviors, determine how closely
they match successful interventions and compare the functionality of several
devices and their apps to the recommendations of health care professionals.
The researchers
found that most of the interactive tools in these devices' apps for goal
setting, self monitoring and feedback were in line with what health care
professionals recommend for their patients. The number of available app tools
was similar to the amount of techniques used by health care professionals to
increase their patients' physical activity. However, several tactics associated
with successfully increasing physical activity were uncommon in or absent from
the monitor systems, including action planning, instruction on how to do the
behavior, commitment and problem solving.
In the end, the apps
with the most features may not be as useful as those with fewer but more
effective tools. Individual success is also likely influenced by individual
preferences and needs, such as the need for a waterproof monitor for swimming
or a device with energy balance information including food logs, which may make
them more suitable for weight loss attempts than systems that monitor activity
and weight only.
Beyond the more
typical uses for weight loss aids, electronic activity monitors may also be
useful for patients when they are released from the hospital as a measure of
recovery and quality of life. The consistent, objective measures used by these
monitors could help health care professionals identify at-risk individuals for
secondary prevention and rehabilitation purposes.
"This content
analysis provides preliminary information as to what these devices are capable
of, laying a foundation for clinical, public health and rehabilitation
applications," said Lyons. "Future studies are needed to further
investigate new types of electronic activity monitors and to test their
feasibility, acceptability and ultimately their public health impact."
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