Counting your steps? You might be better off using your smartphone rather than a FitBit or other fitness band, according to a new study published this week.
The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association tested the accuracy of steps recorded by smartphones, pedometers and fitness bands. The Fitbit Flex, the Nike FuelBand and Jawbone UP24 were the worst performers, undercounting the number of steps by 1.5 percent to as much as 22.7 percent, according to the Guardian, which summarized the study. Fitness apps on smartphones fared better, undercounting or overcounting steps by up to about 6 percent. The pedometers and accelerometers did the best job; they miscounted by 1 percent or less.
Our findings suggest that smartphone apps could prove to be a more widely accessible and affordable way of tracking health behaviors, said the study s lead author, Dr. Mitesh S. Patel, assistant professor of Medicine and Health Care Management at University of Pennsylvania.
Fitness bands cost about $100 or more. The cost of one of the pedometers used in the study, the Digi-Walker SW-200, is listed at as low as $20. The apps used in the study were Fitbit, Health Mate and Moves. They re free in the App Store.
The study involved 14 participants in 56 walking trials on treadmills. Researchers counted steps visually and compared the numbers with those produced by the gadgets.
Photo of Fitbit Flex from Fitbit
