Are wearable fitness devices effective enough?

With wearable fitness trackers, fitness fiends have added a new toy to their gear and the not-so-inspired ones have giddy upped to take those 10,000 important daily steps towards better health. But as you strap the tracker on your chest, wrist, or arm, are you really reaping as much benefit as you believe? A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) seems to disagree.

How beneficial are wearable devices?

The two-year survey found that these gadgets were less effective at encouraging users to lose weight compared to a simple diet plan and exercise regime. Celebrity trainer Prashant Sawant, says, "A tracker is a good step towards getting healthy but not a big one. A big step would be hitting the gym. Trackers only motivate and support you."

The novelty factor

By displaying number of steps, calories burnt, heart rate, pulse rate, and sleep pattern, trackers make you feel in control. But as the novelty wears off, it may have the same fate as the treadmill that became the laundry stand. "It's like a new phone. You will be excited about the new features but a few months later you might not even wear the tracker anymore," says Bhavesh Patil, fitness coach. As senior fitness trainer Aakash Pardesi believes, trackers are more fad than function. "You see a new gadget and someone else using it, you want to own it too. Then there are discounts by e-sellers enticing you."

Rely on your own judgment

Bhavesh and Aakash point out that your own judgement and discipline are more reliable than the devices. Like another study points out, knowing that you have reached the activity goal for the day may make you cheat on your diet. "It is only your discipline and the will to stay fit that actually matters. Exercise regularly and follow a healthy diet for life and you won't need anything else," Bhavesh says.

Trackers do hold some value

Even if the tracker doesn't seem like a great value addition, don't chuck it out yet. They're great for keeping you motivated, as Prashant and Aakash both emphasise. Prashant says, "These devices make you conscious. When you know you haven't completed the 10,000 mark, you will put in an effort to reach the goal." A tracker also helps monitor your heart rate. "This feature especially helps senior citizens who need to keep an eye on their heart rate when working out," Prashant adds. If you plan to buy a fitness tracker, buy branded ones like Fitbit, Fit Core, or Polar. They are more accurate. "Even so, they are not 100 per cent accurate. The best ones will be 90 to 95 per cent precise," Prashant says.