30 Seconds SummaryResearch Spotlight: Accuracy of wearables for measuring energy expenditure
- Research studied the accuracy of energy expenditure measurements by three wrist-worn devices: Apple Watch 6, Polar Vantage V, and Fitbit Sense with participants performing various exercises.
- The accuracy of these devices was compared to criterion measurements from Polar H10 chest strap and MetaMax 3B, using methods like Pearson correlations and Bland-Altman plots.
- Results showed poor performance in estimating energy expenditure for all devices across various activities, with inconsistencies, large errors, and substantial variability.
- Although not reliable for estimating energy expenditure, the Apple Watch 6 showed comparatively better accuracy in heart rate monitoring during endurance exercises.
- The study advises against relying on wearables for precise energy expenditure estimates but recognizes their usefulness in tracking heart rate and daily steps.
- A suggested alternative approach is tracking daily energy intake and body weight fluctuations to assess energy balance and body composition changes over time.
- Overall, current wearable technologies are insufficiently accurate for energy expenditure estimation but could improve in future, and still offer value for other fitness metrics.
Stronger By Science
Eric Trexler
