Why I’m not a fan of Fitbits

DO YOU have a Fitbit? Sales are soaring and they are now so popular they are included in the Office for National Statistics’ basket of goods and services used to calculate the cost of living. Research published this week also suggests that fitness trackers can boost weight loss. I know people swear by them, but they leave me cold. I’m not a fan of the over-analysing that comes with technology. People become obsessed with how many steps they’ve done and stop exercising for fun. In fact, many doctors worry health gadgets might make things worse. Sleep apps have been blamed for insomnia as people become so worried they can’t sleep. It’s a similar story with devices that track ovulation to help couples conceive; there are concerns the worry these create raises stress hormones which may reduce fertility. Health anxiety is an epidemic, fuelled in part by these gadgets.