New study suggests fitness trackers are not as effective as we think for weight loss
Despite their growing popularity, a new US study suggests that activity trackers are not the most effective way for achieving and sustaining weight loss.
Carried out by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Education's Department of Health and Physical Activity, the study followed 470 individuals aged 18 to 35 for a two-year period as they participated in a behavioral weight loss program prescribed by the team.
All participants, who had a body mass index between 25 and 39 at the start of the trial, were placed on low-calorie diets, asked to increase their participation in physical activity, and received weekly group-counseling sessions on health and nutrition.
After six months participants were split into two groups: those that continued the health-counseling sessions, which were now reduced from weekly to monthly, and those who stopped the health counselling sessions and were instead given a fitness wearable to monitor diet and physical activity.
Although both groups showed significant improvements in body composition, fitness, physical activity, and diet over the following 18 months, those who wore trackers actually lost less weight than those who didn't, with an average weight loss of 7.7 pounds for those who tracked their progress, but an average loss of 13 pounds for those who instead attended health-counseling sessions.
Although the team recognized that activity trackers can make it easier to monitor and record physical activity, as well as provide feedback and encouragement, they also noted that they may not actually increase or offer an advantage over adherence to a healthy lifestyle plan -- the most important part of any weight loss program.
The findings led lead researcher John Jakicic to conclude that, "The findings of our study are important because effective long-term treatments are needed to address America's obesity epidemic. We've found that questions remain regarding the effectiveness of wearable devices and how to best use them to modify physical activity and diet behaviors in adults seeking weight loss."
He also added that, "These devices should not be relied upon as tools for weight management in place of effective behavioral counseling for physical activity and diet."
The results can be found online published in the journal JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.
