About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

People are Motivated by the Information Given by Fitness Wearables

by Mohamed Fathima S on February 3, 2019 at 10:30 AM
Font : A-A+

People are Motivated by the Information Given by Fitness Wearables

It's the time of the year where New Year resolutions of adopting a healthy lifestyle in 2019 either make or break. According to the Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2019, wearable technology is ranked #1 and is mostly believed to motivate people into physical activity. Nevertheless, recent research has shown that these fitness devices itself are not the one that drive you but rather the information it provides benefits you.

A study performed at Atlantic Sports Health, based in Morristown, NJ, examining the effectiveness of wearable activity trackers showed that those who wore the devices over a period of time and had access to the data the devices collected, such as number of steps taken, averaged more active hours per day than those who did not have the data.

Advertisement


"Information is a powerful motivator," said Damion Martins, MD, medical director of sports medicine and sports physical therapy for Atlantic Health System, who led the study. "Wearable trackers can be instrumental to one's journey to fitness, but it's truly the information that they convey about a person's progress that helps keep them on track in a rewarding direction."

"In short, as the proverb goes, 'nothing succeeds like success,' and if technology can help fuel the mind to positively impact our fitness goals - why not give it a try?" said co-author Adam Kahn, physician assistant and manager at Atlantic Sports Health. This is particularly timely since according to a 2018 survey by Accenture, consumer use of wearables has more than tripled since 2014.
Advertisement

The 14-week study consisted of 60 relatively healthy female and male participants between the ages of 25 and 55. The participants were Atlantic Health System employees, who held office or "desk" jobs.

Participants were randomly placed in one of three groups. For the first 30 days, Group A participants wore a device with knowledge of its function, and with access to the data measured by the device (such as steps taken).

Group B had knowledge of device's function, but without access to the data through the corresponding digital app. From days 31 to 60, Groups A and B crossed over to either gain access to the device's data (Group B) or lose it (Group A).

The third group, Group C, had knowledge of the device's function but had no access to the data for the duration of the study.

The results showed that those who had access to information about their progress remained more active than those who only had the device. This was most evident with Group A, which averaged the most active hours per day throughout the duration of the study, but saw a decrease in active hours and steps taken once they lost access to that information.

The findings were similar to those in a recent study at the University of California, San Diego, which demonstrated that having access to performance indicators that could be viewed in real-time served as a motivator to activate change.

"I like the concept of wearables because it can boost a patient's engagement and can help prevent costly chronic care episodes," said Dr. Martins.

While many factors can impact an individual's desire to become more physically active, the abundant availability of technology and its ability to hold the user accountable by providing instant feedback serves incredible potential toward healthier living, the study further concluded. The evaluation of the data provided by such devices may serve to better aid the users in optimizing and sustaining their engagement with physical activity.



Source: Newswise
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Lifestyle and Wellness News

 Brain Protein Behind High-Salt-Induced Hypertension and Cognitive Impairment
Researchers identified two key physiological systems involved in hypertension, cognitive, and emotional impairments following high salt intake.
Defying Time: Unlocking the Secrets to Wrinkle-Free Skin
Decoding the secrets of wrinkles by knowing the causes, prevention, and expert advice.
Summer's Gaze: Prioritizing Eye Care!
With the arrival of summer and the lure of outdoor activities, it is essential to give equal importance to the well-being of your eyes and skin.
Summer Makeup Battle: Conquering Humidity and Heat
Combination of high humidity and scorching heat in summer poses a daunting task for makeup wearers; balancing it is thus crucial.
Protecting Yourself from Summer Sun: Tips and Tricks
Selecting the right SPF for your skin is quite tricky, but the thumb rule is to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for effective results.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

People are Motivated by the Information Given by Fitness Wearables Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests