Using Fitbit as an mHealth Intervention Tool to Promote Physical Activity: Potential Challenges and Solutions.

ABSTRACT: Consumer-based physical activity (PA) trackers, also known as wearables, are increasingly being used in research studies as intervention or measurement tools. One of the most popular and widely used brands of PA trackers is Fitbit. Since the release of the first Fitbit in 2009, hundreds of experimental studies have used Fitbit devices to facilitate PA self-monitoring and behavior change via goal setting and feedback tools. Fitbit's ability to capture large volumes of PA and physiological data in real time creates enormous opportunities for researchers. At the same time, however, it introduces a number of challenges (eg, technological, operational, logistical), most of which are not sufficiently described in study publications. Currently, there are no technical reports, guidelines, nor othe

SUBMITTER: Balbim GM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7961407 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature