Jury out on efficacy of wearable technology as demand soars
In January, and for the second year in a row, wearable technology topped the list of the American College of Sports Medicine’s Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2017.
But is wearable tech just a fad that is taking time to fade? Or can the technology really boost health?
Certainly, the technology boosts the profit margins of companies making the devices. It is a rapidly growing, billiondollar industry. It includes devices such as “smart” watches, global positioning system (GPS) trackers, heartrate monitors and pedometers (step counters). The device is worn or pinned to clothing and monitors elements of health and fitness.
Fans of wearable tech say that it is arguably the most exciting area of consumer technology. But its beginnings date back centuries. An article in The Guardian newspaper in March notes that we’ve been “strapping bits and pieces to our bodies in pursuit of technological nirvana” since the 17th century. It cites an abacus ring of the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China from 1644 to 1912.
It also cites the forerunner of the pedometer, dating back to 1780. A Swiss man, AbrahamLouis Perrelet, modified his self-winding watch to measure his steps and distance travelled while walking.
But is there any science to back up claims that this technology can really change health metrics? The jury is very much still out.
A study by Mayo Clinic researchers published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2016 found that adding wearable technology devices to a standard behavioural intervention (diet and exercise) resulted in less weight loss over 24 months. It also found “no significant differences between the two groups regarding physical activity, calorie intake and diet”. An article in Time magazine in October 2016 says that while fitness trackers are ubiquitous, the evidence isn’t. Research shows that these devices “don’t do much to motivate people to move more”.
That was a reference to a study earlier in 2016, in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal. US and Singaporean researchers say that their data “identified no evidence of improvements in health outcomes, either with or without incentives”.
Damien Seid, MD of Mobile Fitness Solutions and Company Wellness Solutions, is a master personal trainer — certified to train the trainers. He has been in the South African wellness industry for more than 12 years. He says that he has helped more than 15,000 people lose a whopping collective 120 tonnes.
He is only relatively restrained on the topic of whether the hype of wearable tech matches the hope: “Out of all the rat races out there, the tech race is a breed unto its own.” Couple that with the power of one of the largest industries in the world — wellness — and you achieve “an entirely new beast”.
It is a world where the Joneses are fighting hard to keep up with each other, quite literally, Seid says. It’s a market “so fierce that today’s champion is tomorrow’s ridicule”.
That said, there’s no doubting that people love technology — most, anyway. And they all want to stay healthy. So how exactly can wearable tech help?
Seid says knowledge is power. The more data collected about day-to-day tasks, the better. Monitoring how much you exercise and sleep is equally beneficial. With this knowledge, you can begin consciously to make lifestyle changes for the better.
So what wearable tech should you buy? If you’re into smart watches, the first and classic question is likely to be Apple or not, he says.
If you are a die-hard Apple fan, you’ll go for the Apple Watch Series 3, Seid says.
This is “part smart watch, part fitness tracker and a whole lot more”. These devices are stylish and functional.
If you choose the Samsung Gear 3, Seid says that you get the best of both worlds. Samsung has “graciously” made its latest watch compatible with Android and IOS, he says.
The next contender is the latest LG watch. Seid believes it to be the best-looking. However, it is by far the bulkiest. It may also be overloaded with features — if that’s possible, he adds.
And if you are really serious about gym, all of the above probably aren’t for you. Seid would rather you choose the Fitbit Ionic or Garmin Vivoactive. He describes both as “amazing pieces of tech”, with the Fitbit “boasting the top spot”, especially when it comes to the GPS function.
And, of course, whichever device you buy, it’s only as effective as you choose to make it. Any device can give you information and perhaps even a smidgeon of motivation, Seid says. However, you have to get yourself off the couch.
His advice: set achievable goals, beat personal records and take as many steps as you can in a day. This is how you begin making a difference in your life when incorporating a smart watch or any other wearable technology.
Smart devices are contraindicated in those with pacemakers and pregnant women, he warns.
US bodybuilding champion and fitness writer Matt McGorry says that the mind is “the most important part of achieving any fitness goal” and mental change “always comes before physical change”.