The Dark Side of Fitness Trackers: Are They Making You Unhealthier?

Fitness trackers have become a ubiquitous tool for those seeking to improve their health, with devices from brands like Fitbit, Garmin, and Apple dominating the market. They promise to enhance our fitness routines, measure our progress, and even provide personalised health insights.

However, recent studies suggest that these devices may not be as beneficial as they appear, with evidence mounting that their use could potentially harm both physical and mental well-being.

This article will explore the less-discussed side effects of fitness trackers, backed by scientific research, to determine whether they are genuinely advantageous or if they are leading people towards unhealthier habits.

The Accuracy of Fitness Trackers: A Questionable Foundation

Fitness trackers claim to measure a wide range of metrics, from steps taken and calories burned to heart rate and sleep quality. However, multiple studies reveal that these measurements can be inaccurate, sometimes leading to misguided health and fitness decisions. Research conducted by Wang et al. (2017) found that step count accuracy varied significantly among popular wearable devices, with error rates up to 25% in certain conditions.

Another study by Shcherbina et al. (2017) focused on calorie burn estimations, finding that none of the tested devices were accurate, with error rates ranging from 27% to 93%.

These inaccuracies are not merely a minor flaw; they can lead to substantial misunderstandings about actual physical activity levels. For example, a user who believes they have burned a certain number of calories may feel justified in eating more, potentially leading to weight gain. Additionally, overestimating activity levels could foster a false sense of accomplishment, discouraging further physical activity.

Impact of Inaccuracies on Health and Fitness Goals

The reliance on inaccurate metrics may negatively impact physical health. For example, someone using a fitness tracker primarily for weight loss may not reach their goals due to inaccurate calorie measurements, leading to frustration and potential discontinuation of healthy habits. Studies such as those conducted by Nelson et al. (2016) highlight that perceived progress based on faulty data can demotivate individuals, lowering adherence to fitness programmes over time.

Mental Health Impacts: Anxiety and Obsession with Data

A growing body of research suggests that fitness trackers can contribute to anxiety and an unhealthy obsession with health metrics. A study by Rupp et al. (2020) found that regular fitness tracker users exhibited higher levels of anxiety and compulsive exercise behaviours than non-users. The data-driven nature of fitness tracking encourages users to focus intensely on metrics, often leading to stress when goals aren’t met or when daily statistics fall below expectations.

This obsessive focus on numerical targets can be detrimental, especially for individuals prone to anxiety or those with a history of eating disorders. Research conducted by Simpson and Mazzeo (2017) shows that fitness trackers can trigger or exacerbate disordered eating behaviours by reinforcing an obsession with calorie counts and body weight. The concept of “hitting goals” can turn from a positive reinforcement into a source of distress, as users feel compelled to meet arbitrary targets each day.

The Pressure of Social Comparison

Fitness trackers are often integrated with social sharing platforms, allowing users to compare their statistics with friends and family. While competition can be motivating, research suggests that this feature can also foster unhealthy comparisons and self-criticism. A study by Leahey et al. (2019) found that individuals who frequently compared their fitness data with others reported lower self-esteem and were more likely to feel discouraged by their progress. Social comparison can turn what should be a personal fitness journey into a competitive environment, often leading to dissatisfaction and increased pressure to perform.

Physical Health Risks: Overtraining and Misleading Metrics

Fitness trackers frequently encourage users to hit daily step or calorie goals, regardless of individual physical capacity or health status. For some, this can lead to overtraining, a state in which the body is pushed beyond its limits, resulting in injury or burnout. A study by Behrens and Dinger (2019) found that those who adhered strictly to daily goals set by their fitness trackers were at higher risk of overuse injuries, such as stress fractures and tendonitis.

Moreover, the focus on meeting arbitrary activity goals, such as the widely promoted “10,000 steps per day,” can lead to overexertion. While the 10,000-step target is often cited as a universal health guideline, research by I-Min Lee et al. (2019) reveals that significant health benefits can be achieved with fewer steps, especially for older adults, suggesting that such targets are not universally applicable. For individuals with physical limitations or chronic health conditions, pushing to reach these goals can be harmful rather than beneficial.

Sleep Tracking: A Double-Edged Sword

One of the significant selling points of many fitness trackers is sleep tracking, which promises insights into sleep patterns and quality. However, studies reveal that the sleep data provided by these devices may not be entirely reliable. Research conducted by de Zambotti et al. (2018) found that while some devices could detect general sleep and wake periods, they were less accurate in distinguishing sleep stages, such as REM and deep sleep.

Inaccurate sleep data can lead to a phenomenon known as orthosomnia, where individuals become overly concerned with achieving “perfect” sleep based on their tracker’s feedback. A study by Baron et al. (2017) highlights that individuals who use sleep tracking devices often report more anxiety about their sleep quality and tend to over-focus on optimising sleep data rather than sleep quality, sometimes resulting in poorer actual sleep due to stress.

Data Privacy Concerns: Who Owns Your Health Data?

Fitness trackers gather a vast amount of personal data, including location, activity levels, and heart rate. While this information can help users track their progress, it also raises significant privacy concerns. Research by Lupton (2016) indicates that many users are unaware of who has access to their data and how it may be used. Major fitness tracker companies have been criticised for sharing user data with third-party companies, including advertisers, without explicit consent.

Furthermore, a study by Yang and Shin (2019) highlights the vulnerability of health data to security breaches. In recent years, there have been reports of hacking incidents targeting wearable devices, leading to stolen personal information. For users, this means that wearing a fitness tracker may inadvertently expose sensitive health data to unknown parties, posing potential risks to personal privacy and security.

Ethical Concerns Surrounding Data Collection

Beyond privacy, the ethical implications of data collection by fitness tracker companies are concerning. Many devices require users to consent to data collection as a condition of use, leaving consumers with limited choice if they wish to protect their privacy. Research by Sharon and Zandbergen (2017) argues that this data collection model can lead to exploitation, with users unaware of the full extent of data being collected and how it may be used to profit companies, often at the expense of user privacy.

Dependence on Technology and Decreased Self-Awareness

Fitness trackers may encourage users to rely on technology to gauge their health status rather than listening to their own bodies. This reliance on technology can lead to decreased self-awareness, as users focus on meeting predefined metrics rather than assessing how they feel physically and mentally. A study by Kerner and Goodyear (2017) found that fitness tracker users were more likely to ignore bodily signals of fatigue or pain in favour of achieving device-specified goals, increasing the risk of injury and long-term health issues.

Reduced Motivation Without Devices

Research also suggests that fitness trackers may undermine intrinsic motivation to exercise. A study by Etkin (2016) found that individuals who used fitness trackers for extended periods were more likely to report decreased enjoyment in physical activity and were more likely to abandon exercise when they stopped using the devices. This suggests that relying on external devices for motivation may diminish the enjoyment and long-term commitment to exercise, potentially leading to less consistent physical activity in the absence of the device.

Conclusion

While fitness trackers offer certain benefits, including accountability and basic activity tracking, they come with potential risks that users must consider. Inaccurate data, mental health effects, physical risks, privacy concerns, and reduced self-awareness are significant issues highlighted by research. As with any health-related tool, it’s essential for users to approach fitness trackers with caution, using them as one of many resources rather than the sole determinant of their health and fitness journey.

Key Takeaways Table

References

• Wang, R., Blackburn, G., Desai, M., Phelan, D., Gillinov, L., Houghtaling, P., & Gillinov, N. (2017) ‘Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Heart Rate Monitors’, Journal of the American Medical Association.
• Shcherbina, A., Mattsson, C., Waggott, D., Salisbury, H., Christle, J.W., Hastie, T., & Ashley, E.A. (2017) ‘The accuracy of wearable heart rate monitors in healthy individuals’, PLoS One.