FitBits Aren’t Supposed to Make You Lose Weight

A recent study suggests that the popular fitbit wearable doesn’t lead to weight loss. Worse — wearing a fitbit actually produces decreased weight loss. It turns out that using a fitbit doesn’t inspire the wearer to more physical activity. While that’s saddening, it’s not surprising — after all, merely wearing a new electronic toy is unlikely to change long ingrained habits of lethargy. It’s saddening because health studies show that increasing physical activity can dramatically improve your health. While some fitbit wearers doubtless changed their lifestyle, the available evidence from that study seems to show that most didn’t. So once again we have a paradoxical result from a personal digital appliance that was supposed to make us healthier…and wound up having the opposite effect overall.

Key Points:

  • 1According to that same 2 year study, the answer to whether or not FitBit users moved more was no.
  • 2Simply telling them to move more, or apparently showing them how little or how much they move, isn’t going to be enough in and of itself.
  • 3If we want people to move more we need to find ways to make doing so easier, more fun, and/or more valuable.


It’s been all over the news these past few weeks, a recent study reported that not only didn’t wearing a FitBit as part of a weight loss program lead to increased weight loss, it led to decreased weight loss.

Read the full article at: https://www.weightymatters.ca/2016/10/fitbits-arent-supposed-to-make-you-lose.html

 

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HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

Mark
20. September 2017
Mark
20. September 2017
3 months - 40 pounds. Thanks Fitbit

Crystal
12. August 2017
Crystal
12. August 2017
FitBit is a tool... just like anything else... if you use the tool effectively you can and will change your lifestyle... if you expect it to be a "magical cure" then you will be sadly mistaken... My husband and I ordered our FitBit last December (2015) since then we have made a commitment to "walking the walk" and together we have lost over 250 pounds but that is not the reason we ordered them... we wanted to become healthier... and the weight loss was a side benefit!!! Resting heart rate has decreased from 97 to 64... blood pressure WAS 189/94 (at its highest-average was 150/93) it is NOW 113/62 ... Hubby - 62 Wife - 53...we are not on cholesterol pills, blood pressure pills, or any other "PILLS" for that matter... except vitamins.... the FitBit holds us accountable for our actions... if we want the steps to add up we have to take the first step to accomplish it... then when you see how much effort it takes to lose the weight you are more cautious with what you eat because you know what it takes to work off those calories... people who say they did not lose weight while using their FitBit need to take it out of the drawer and actually wear it next time... *laughing*

Verity
14. July 2017
Verity
14. July 2017
I love my fitbit and although sure it doesn't make you lose weight it helped me track my goals better so I lost 20lb in a year and still dropping. It depends on the person but it was enough to motivate me to get of the couch a few more hours a day

Annie
4. July 2017
Annie
4. July 2017
This might be one of the worst articles/studies ever done. The majority of people who buy fitbits are individuals who are desperately seeking something to help them start their weight lose/workout. People who are too lazy or uninspired to start things often look towards external means for help, blaming the fitbit for their laziness is crazy. I bought the fitbit as a tool to make my workouts better and more efficient, i didn't buy it hoping it would change my life habits.

Susan Williams
27. May 2017
Susan Williams
27. May 2017
I love my FitBit! It keeps me motivated everyday to get my steps in & because of it I do! Of course as in anything you have to want to make the necessary changes in your life to improve health & mental status.

Marlene
24. January 2017
Marlene
24. January 2017
I got a FitBit for my birthday last September and I absolutely love it. I have been on a weight loss journey for the last year and a half and I have lost the bulk of my 56lbs after a started wearing my FitBit. It motivates me. I use it to track my exercise, sleeping, and eating habits. I love looking at my wrist throughout the day to see how many steps I have taken and how many more I need to reach my daily goal. No equipment in and of itself can provide the motivation that people need to change ingrained habits. Perhaps the individuals who are using the FitBit need to further understand how to use it properly. Love my FitBit!!!

Adrik Hates Fitbits
1. January 2017
Adrik Hates Fitbits
1. January 2017
i bet all the people commenting are fitbit employees saving there job. :\

Patti
19. November 2016
Patti
19. November 2016
One more thing. The headline on this page is somewhat misleading. The study DID NOT USE Fitbits so take this study with a BIG grain of salt. They used an older wearable type fitness tracker that was worn on the arm and not as easy to use, called the BodyMedia Fit System? and ran from 2010 to 2012. The Fitbit is on your wrist and is always visible and sends you reminders to move every hour. It also connects you to other Fitbit users so you can find friends and join challenges where others can cheer on your progress. Surprisingly, getting extra support even from people you only know through another Fitbit user can be very encouraging!

Patti
19. November 2016
Patti
19. November 2016
I totally agree with Serena. I think the Fitbit is a tool for helping people living healthier lives. The scale doesn't help you lose weight either unless you are ready to lose weight by eating less and getting active. I bought a Fitbit charge in April and it immediately made me want to get my 10,000 goal steps. I wore it all the time and found it hard to get my steps at first. When the weather cooled off a bit at the end of August I enlisted my best friend to walk with me (she bought a Fitbit 2 weeks later) and joined weight watchers (their app connects to the Fitbit). We have been walking every day for at least an hour. I am sure it helped my metabolism because since August 30 I have lost 15 pounds at Weight Watchers and the walking is toning my body and building muscle. The Fitbit helped me get into a mindset to get healthier and I was ready to lose weight. The walking goal is now 14,000 steps and another friend bought a Fitbit and we now have 1-3 people walking with us most days. When it gets too cold to go outside we will go to the mall to walk. That being said, you don't need to have a Fitbit to get active but they are fun. It worked for me and for my friend (she lost weight by counting calories) and we have been challenging each other using the Fitbit challenges. My best tool has actually been my best friend who encouraged me. If you do anything, get good walking shoes and go walking with a friend. It becomes a habit.

Serena
8. November 2016
Serena
8. November 2016
I have worn a Fitbit for almost a year, it will not make you lose weight, It cannot as it is there only to help you as an aid and to encourage you to be more active, at the end of the day it is upto you to make the effort and if you are a lazy person you never will by expecting the gadget to do the work for you!! Get off your butt and get active, I love my Fitbit and it has made me get off the settee and my iPad and meet my daily activity targets. I am ready to trade to a waterproof Fitbit this Christmas in order to be able to include my swimming activities which I have recently taken up and will be so happy that they can now be monitored.

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Written by HealthStatus
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HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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