10/22/2025
Wearable fitness devices have become increasingly popular in recent years. They can be a great way to track your activity levels and motivate yourself to move more. However, it's important to keep in mind that wearables can overestimate activity.
A study published in the journal PLOS One found that wearables overestimated step count by an average of 15%. This means that if your wearable says you took 10,000 steps in a day, you may have actually taken closer to 8,500 steps.
Another study, published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, found that wearables overestimated calorie burn by an average of 30%. This means that if your wearable says you burned 300 calories during a workout, you may have actually burned closer to 210 calories.
There are a few reasons why wearables may overestimate activity. One reason is that they rely on accelerometers to track movement. Accelerometers can be fooled by certain movements, such as arm swinging and fidgeting.
Another reason why wearables may overestimate activity is that they use algorithms to estimate calorie burn. These algorithms are not always accurate, and they can be affected by factors such as age, s*x, weight, and fitness level.
If you're using a wearable to track your activity levels, it's important to keep in mind that it may be overestimating your activity. It's also important to be realistic about your calorie burn goals. If your wearable says you burned 300 calories during a workout, don't expect to lose 300 grams of fat overnight.
Here are some tips for using wearables accurately:
Wear your wearable snugly on your wrist.
Avoid wearing your wearable while you're sleeping or doing activities that involve a lot of arm swinging or fidgeting.
If you're using a wearable to track calorie burn, make sure to enter your accurate age, s*x, weight, and fitness level into the wearable's app.
Be realistic about your activity levels and calorie burn goals.