The Truth about Fitness Trackers

These days, it seems like pretty much everyone has a smart, fitness tracking watch... But there’s a side to things that we don’t talk about enough: these trackers may actually get in the way of your health goals instead of helping you achieve them.

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Script: Holly Maley
Editor: Kim Su
Lead Editor: Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Sher DiMarco

[JorgeAFlores]

This trackers were the key element for me to loose 100lb in 10 months, and stop being obese, but all my friends that decided to imitate me didn’t achieve it, because the other key element, diet and exercise, was not present.

[philip]

What a great host Sher is! Subscribed!

[austinpassler]

Also something of note, there's a major difference between smart watches with fitness features vs fitness watches with some smart ones. I've had both and find my Garmin way more useful at just helping me keep track of my workouts.

[originalsoymilk]

I really enjoyed the new host! Love to see the brand expand. I think this is a solid first video but I wish it went into more about the accuracy of the watches. There are so many features that are overall questionable like the heart rate monitoring accuracy. I'm curious how inaccurate data like that can influence people in their health decisions. I've used a watch for a couple years now and the biggest thing for me is to see how often I am moving and how often I'm standing since I WFM. I'm really excited to see future videos and what health topics you guys cover! I think something really interesting that ya'll could talk about is the trend toward meat substitutes. I feel like people are discovering that they're not all that healthy - but when has a burger (meat or non-meat) supposed to be healthy?

[yairseeman]

2 Future Proof videos in the same day?! what have I done to deserve all of this?
Amazing video, Sher, keep it up, please!

[iseemelanie]

I just got a Fitbit for Christmas and I love it. While I am looking to lose a bit a weight and like the fact that it keeps track of my steps and all that, I’m mostly into it because of its heart rate monitor. For me, understanding how stressed out my heart is during various activities is the major health statistic I use to gauge how my body is acting and improving.

[silvenshadow]

Love the mention of mental health problems related to tracker use. As for the privacy issues, I think most people have been conditioned to not care. Also outro music is 🔥. Congratulations on the new channel!

[latristessdurera]

I was an early adopter of the Fitbit after watching a tech review back in 2010/11. Original I liked concept but started to get a little creeped out when the technology started to expand beyond counting steps, a watch and a heart rate monitor. I’ve since returned to my good old Casio watch.

[LuisanaRamirez]

Bipolar disorder and divergent behaviour. I was diagnosed at 19; I’m now 37 and every day I have to wear my “normal person” custom. On the tracker topic, I am a teacher and I switched from my Fitbit to an classical watch 5 years ago. Peace of mind and simplicity. Happiness

[ryllaresler]

Thank you so much for this video. I am a yoga teacher, who always encourages her students to listen into their bodies. Sometimes I think these trackers encourage disconnection from feeling and I really appreciate you addressing that and the privacy issues here very well done thank you.

[Northwest]

Great video! Here are video ideas:

- the dark side of depression medication < why psychedelics are better
- how big pharma makes money off of your pain
- 4-day workweek leads to overall better health
- yoga as fitness vs yoga as life/philosophy

[tnan]

Would love a deeper a dive on some of the tracking done by these fitness trackers. How accurate is the sleep tracking really? How useful are ECG or pulse ox measurements? What are some of the next health related things that might be tracked?

[ClimbingEasy]

I am subbed, I am all about this type of content.

Suggestions: soaps (pure Olive oils vs coco oil...), Micro plastics, mental health benefits in the vain of fitness and struggle.

[rivenharlow]

Love the content!
I use my Apple Watch for my anxiety, actually. The heart rate monitor helps me with visualizing myself calming down from panic attacks, plus knowing the time helps my ADHD-ass not lose track of time in my time blindness.

[teabagfc]

Great host!

Suggestions: Fitness supplements (protein powders, creatine, etc.); Trendy diets

[manbuckets]

Excited to see the future of this channel as well! It’s nice to see the health version of Future Proof!

[nnennaumelloh]

This is a great video! I appreciate the time and information provided. I want to offer some feedback. I get what you're saying when you point out the devices are "spying" on you. However to call it spying makes it sound they're conducting illegal activities. Spying has a nefarious connotation. These devices that people purchase monitor specific behavior. The behavior is monitored and collected legally and with permission given that the consumer bought it. Now if a hacker infiltrated the software to collect information without the company or the user being aware, that, by definition, is spying and illegal. It's not fair to connote the two behaviors because they're not equivalent. (Yes, few to no one reads the T&S so users may be agreeing to more than they realize but even that is still not technically spying and it's legal.)

[tihroflan]

I comment to please the YouTube algorithm, so you can get more views. Excellent video 👍

[fayem]

Happy start! Great job! I study dietology and we are advised to do nothing about it

[lyuba]

Thanks for this video and the reminder about privacy settings! Personally for me the biggest benefit of a fitness watch has been sleep tracking - I haven’t had a consistent sleep schedule since I was in high school, and having a Fitbit has really helped me be aware of periods of time when my nightly sleep isn’t meeting my goal, and gives me a useful push to prioritize sleep in those times. The step counter is nice too, though if it wasn’t for sleep tracking I’d probably be fine using my phone. I’ve barely taken my Fitbit off (except to charge) since I first got it for Christmas in 2018.