The Hidden Pitfalls of Fitness Trackers: How to Boost Your Performance Without Losing Yourself in the Data

The Hidden Pitfalls of Fitness Trackers: How to Boost Your Performance Without Losing Yourself in the Data

For example, heart rate and step-count data are generally reliable,2 but many other types of outputs—from calories burned to movement velocity—have substantial margins for error.

The below chart shows the reliability of various tracking devices.An infographic chart titled 'Tracking Devices and the Health Metrics They Can Assess' comparing different devices (Pedometers, Activity Bands, Smartwatches, Chest Straps, Ring Trackers, Smartphone Apps, Medical Wearables, and Strength Wearables) against various metrics (Steps, Heart Rate, Recovery, Calories, Sleep Duration, Sleep Quality, Speed, and Power). The accuracy is indicated by green checkmarks (very accurate), yellow dots (decent accuracy), and red X's (limited or not available).

(If you’re curious, we cover the accuracy of various progress indicators in more detail here: Are Fitness Trackers Worth It?)

Next, when is tracking actually helpful?

The good: Tracking devices offer us more data about our behaviors and bodies than ever before.

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