Fitness trackers have been shown to increase some people’s weekly exercise times by 38 minutes. While some may find counting steps an obnoxious activity, it can help others.

We’d like to note that fitness trackers aren’t smartwatches, but smartwatches can double as fitness trackers.

These gadgets have become much more affordable lately, and more people are curious about their efficacy.

Do fitness trackers work? Can they help you lose weight?

These are loaded questions that can’t have conclusive answers for everyone.

What we can answer is how they work, why they work, and then you can determine if they’re right for you. This guide will do all the heavy lifting, so you can make a healthy choice.

What Fitness Trackers Do

Your basic fitness tracker is a lot more than a glorified pedometer. These small wrist bands display vitals, steps, goals, and more. Here are a few functions you’ll find in today’s fitness bands…

Step Counters

Fitness bands track how many steps you take based on an accelerometer. This is a piece of engineering that measures momentum. Many fitness trackers don’t rely on GPS because it’s only good for total distance.

GPS works best for goalsetting, rather than tracking fitness. The accelerometers these days use 3 axes of movement to tell where you’re going, i.e. upstairs/downstairs. This helps provide a more accurate picture of your activity.

Other Features

Fitness bands contain many sensors that work together to give an accurate reading of calories burned and overall activity. There’s a Galvanic skin response sensor to detect levels of sweat. You also have a thermometer to measure body temperature, which is useful for avoiding heat sickness.

The heart rate monitor in a fitness band isn’t quite as precise as an EKG, but it’s a great metric of fitness. A UV sensor also provides a useful measurement to warn you if you’re getting a dangerous dose of radiation.

Some fitness trackers combine heart, respiration, and perspiration sensors into one. Technology has allowed engineers to compact so much into wearable devices.

“Calories Burned” Shortcomings

One of the least-accurate measurements from fitness bands and smartwatches is the calorie counter. This is because they rely on a rudimentary A/BMR (active/resting metabolic rate) formula. The calculation is tied to body mass with no distinction between muscle and fat.

Basic biology dictates that more muscle = more weight = higher metabolic demand. The calorie counter is unable to account for these variables, thus making the counter a poor baseline to follow. If you use it as a general gauge with all the other metrics to get an idea of where you’re at, you’re golden.

While You’re Away

A fitness band can do more than measure your activity, it can help you during inactivity, too. They can provide you valuable information about your sleeping habits. If you think you’re not getting enough sleep, a fitness tracker can tell you.

It does this by comparing heart rhythms with the accelerometer data. It isn’t 100% fool-proof, but it can learn your sleeping patterns and give insight into how to change them.

Some fitness bands also pair with their own specialized fitness app. The fitness app can provide you with analytics and trending data for measuring progress. This is where you can also get tailored advice on diet and exercise for your needs.

If you take all of this information and share it with a personal trainer or health professional, you can get really accurate and valuable help from your activity tracker.

Price of Admission

All of the functionality we’ve listed isn’t standard in the fitness band world. Some contain even more benefits, while others are strictly on-band counters. Most trackers, like the Fitbit, come with swappable bands for comfort/style.

Learn how to swap a band on your Fitbit Alta HR easily, for example, and you can get the perfect fit. The idea behind quality brands like Fitbit is to be able to wear it all day without knowing its there. The less you’re thinking about the activity tracker, the better they work.

The tradeoff is that they are a bit pricier, but they come with more value.

Do Fitness Trackers Work?

With all of the cool tech features on these fitness bands, are they the right fit for you? If you’re someone who needs hard data, clear goals, and structure: yes! If you’re mostly self-motivated and need accountability: also, yes!

A fitness tracker can improve your motivation and increase your commitment to fitness. The only reason why people have such mixed results is they grow numb to the numbers displayed. A fitness tracker can’t do anything for you besides provide you with raw numbers.

It’s what you do with those numbers that matter. For many, seeing what their activity looks like on paper gives them stability. Pushing hard to maintain a certain BPM is easier for some than simply “going hard” at the gym.

The tracker isn’t a replacement for professional guidance, but it can connect you with health professionals more readily. It can also act as a decent tool to maintain quality exercise without the gym membership.

Final Advice

Personal responsibility is the key to every fitness goal for every able-bodied person. A fitness tracker is only a tool to keep you honest and provide a sense of direction. Even if you only use it as a pedometer and follow the step counter, it’s still a positive impact on your health.

Do fitness trackers work? Absolutely. The key is how much you’re willing to make adjustments to your daily routine based on the information in your tracker. For some, it’s just awareness while others actively create a strategy.

A fitness tracker is a great tool to provide a “wake-up call” for those who lack motivation. Start your journey to a healthier You by reading some of the past entries on this blog.

You’ll find plenty of personal advice and experiences with fitness trackers, dieting, equipment, and more.