Wearable activity trackers (for example, Fitbit, Apple Watch, Polar, Garmin) are electronic devices that facilitate self-monitoring and tracking of activities and information related to fitness or physical activity. The use of wearable activity tracker devices has increased exponentially in the last decade! But what about when we examine the use of tracker devices to record daily activity (calories) and its associations with gender, generation, BMI, and physical activity behaviour?
Read a recent study here:
In summary:
- Females used tracking devices 2.3 times more than men.
- For every 1-point increase in BMI, the odds of using a tracker device increased by 5.2%.
- Subjects with low cardiovascular disease mortality risk (related to sitting time) used tracker devices 2.7 times more than those with high cardiovascular disease mortality risk.
- The amount of vigorous or moderate physical activity or the time spent walking did not show significant associations with tracker device usage.
Limitations:
- The study’s cross-sectional design prevents establishing a causal relationship.
- Future research should validate the survey and extend the study to other population groups less familiar with tracker device use, collecting more comprehensive data on usage patterns.