The runner on duty with his inseparable fitness tracking device is no longer missing. The most popular and effective seems to be the Apple Watch, however, brands like Fitbit also make a living from it and quite well. We are about to lose weight and the first thing we do is go to the sports equipment store to get the brightest shoes on the market, and then to the consumer electronics store, it is time to choose that device that will count our steps, calories and other paraphernalia, but Are fitness tracking devices really effective in weight loss? The answer according to one study is: No.
This study began two years ago, although they have been preparing it since 2010. 470 people who have followed a low-calorie diet and an exercise regimen during these two years have participated in it. Half of the participants had a fitness tracking device, while the other half did not. Said and done, the first results began to arrive. While the team that had tracking devices had lost an average of 5,8Kg, the rest of the participants only 3,4Kg. What gives good faith of how ineffective these devices are if what we want is to lose weight, the real engine will be our intention and willpower.
According to specialists, psychology is key in weight loss, much more than other additional factors. The study has been published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) and you can read it in this LINK. Definitely, we are not going to deny that they help us to better control the parameters to which we must adhere, but on the other hand, we are not going to lose weight if we do not do our part, physically speaking. These types of devices may be of much more help to people with heart conditions and ailments, or to professional athletes. If what you want is to lose, simply do a good diet and constant exercise.