You’re hunched over your desk, typing away at your keyboard. The caffeine from your morning coffee is doing its job as you progress through your monthly report when suddenly your smartwatch vibrates, reminding you to take a quick hourly break and stand up. Sound familiar? 

In our tech-filled world, wearable health technology is becoming increasingly popular. These devices are designed to track various health metrics and provide feedback.  

Common types of wearable health devices include: 

• Fitness trackers (e.g., Fitbit®, Garmin®) 

• Smartwatches (e.g., Apple Watch®, Google® Pixel Watch®, Samsung® Galaxy Watch®) 

• Health-specific devices (e.g., Oura® Ring, WHOOP® Strap) 

Wearables are often marketed as tools to help accomplish our health goals and make our lives easier. But the big question is, do they work? Research shows they’re effective at increasing physical activity for various age groups, equating to approximately 1,800 extra steps per day, 40 minutes more walking per day and a reduction of roughly 2.2 lbs. in body weight1. However, the effectiveness of wearable health devices depends on your individual goals and how you’d like to track your progress. 

The most common uses for wearables are to help monitor and alert you about personal health information. This can include fitness tracking (steps, distance, calories burned, exercise tracking), health monitoring (heart rate, blood oxygen levels, EKG readings, sleep tracking) and lifestyle optimization (activity reminders, smart alarms, productivity tracking). These devices can also be used for social communication, such as calling, texting and social media. Some products even have a feature that calls 911 in an emergency. 

These devices are not without their limitations. Issues have been expressed with their accuracy and reliability, data privacy concerns regarding sensitive health information and the expense of some of the devices.  

Whether your goal is to run a 5k, get eight hours of sleep each night or drink more water, choose the device that aligns with your lifestyle and supports your goals.