Comparative accuracy of fitness tracking modalities in quantifying energy expenditure

Abstract The purpose of this study is to compare the accuracy of wrist-worn, consumer-grade pedometers and earbud sensor technology in quantifying energy expenditure. Nineteen participants (24.6 ± 3.1 years) performed 5 min exercise stages on a treadmill (80.5 m/min, 107.3 m/min, 134.1 m/min and 160.9 m/min) while measuring energy expenditure via the Fitbit Charge pedometer and Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless Earbuds, comparing with indirect calorimetry. Paired samples t-tests were used to calculate differences and Pearson correlations to examine associations between kcals measured from the Fitbit and Jabra earbuds from indirect calorimetry. Results indicate significant underestimations of kcals for both devices at all speeds except one (Jabra earbuds at 107.3 m/min). Moderate correlations were observed for the Fitbit at 107.3 m/min and 107.3 m/min, and 134.1 m/min for the Jabra earbuds. Both devices considerably underestimated kcals, suggesting that caution be used when incorporating such data into fitness/health goals.

[1]  Gregory J Welk,et al.  Comparison of Consumer and Research Monitors under Semistructured Settings. , 2016, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[2]  Steven Francis Leboeuf,et al.  Earbud-based sensor for the assessment of energy expenditure, HR, and VO2max. , 2014, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[3]  Fernando Costa,et al.  Exercise and physical activity in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a statement from the Council on Clinical Cardiology (Subcommittee on Exercise, Rehabilitation, and Prevention) and the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism (Subcommittee on Ph , 2003, Circulation.

[4]  P. Thompson,et al.  Exercise and physical activity in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. , 2003, Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology.

[5]  Toshiyo Tamura,et al.  Wearable Photoplethysmographic Sensors—Past and Present , 2014 .

[6]  R. Furberg,et al.  Systematic review of the validity and reliability of consumer-wearable activity trackers , 2015, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

[7]  G. Lu,et al.  A comparison of photoplethysmography and ECG recording to analyse heart rate variability in healthy subjects , 2009, Journal of medical engineering & technology.

[8]  B. Saltin,et al.  Exercise as medicine – evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases , 2015, Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports.

[9]  Dinesh John,et al.  Validation of the Fitbit wireless activity tracker for prediction of energy expenditure. , 2015, Journal of physical activity & health.

[10]  D. Malatesta,et al.  Alterations in energy balance from an exercise intervention with ad libitum food intake , 2015, Journal of Nutritional Science.

[11]  J. Schwartz,et al.  Abstract MP11: Fitbit: An Accurate and Reliable Device for Wireless Physical Activity Tracking , 2015 .

[12]  Donald R. Dengel,et al.  Comparison of FitBit® Ultra to ActiGraph™ GT1M for Assessment of Physical Activity in Young Adults During Treadmill Walking , 2014 .

[13]  J. Eriksson,et al.  Physical Activity, Body Composition and Metabolic Syndrome in Young Adults , 2015, PloS one.

[14]  C. Abraham,et al.  Effective techniques in healthy eating and physical activity interventions: a meta-regression. , 2009, Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association.

[15]  F. Booth,et al.  Lack of exercise is a major cause of chronic diseases. , 2012, Comprehensive Physiology.

[16]  I. Olkin,et al.  Using pedometers to increase physical activity and improve health: a systematic review. , 2007, JAMA.

[17]  Ulf Ekelund,et al.  Guide to the assessment of physical activity: Clinical and research applications: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. , 2013, Circulation.

[18]  C. Tudor-Locke,et al.  Adult self-reported and objectively monitored physical activity and sedentary behavior: NHANES 2005–2006 , 2013, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.