![]() ![]() Heart-rate monitors can provide more accurate calorie burn data and some will indicate the zone your heart rate is in. Some also provide a score for the quality of your sleep and offer tips on how to improve it. Some just total up the number of hours you were asleep for, while others break this down into heavy, light and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Sleep tracking capabilities vary between trackers. Most trackers will allow you to record walking, running (both indoors and outdoors) and cycling, while others monitor everything from swimming and yoga to circuit and interval training. Many trackers allow you to record different workouts, with the number of options ranging from 10 or so activities to as many as 130 different types of exercise. These are slim and discreet, but you do need to connect them to an app if you want to see a more detailed breakdown of your activity. There are also screen-free trackers, which instead display your progress as lights on the band. Some trackers have a touchscreen that can be tapped or swiped to view the different metrics, while others have a button on the side that you use to cycle through the data. The fitness metrics are usually displayed on the tracker’s screen. ![]() A handful of trackers can be attached to your clothing, but these lack some of the sensors that wrist-based trackers have, such as heart rate monitors. The majority of fitness trackers come in the form of a slim band with a screen that’s worn on your wrist like a watch. What to consider when buying a fitness tracker It’s easy to become too concerned with the numbers, so remember that the health data is best used as a guide. This is because accurately calculating the number of calories you burn would rely on more variables than any tracker can monitor. However, while a fitness tracker’s step counter and distance monitor may be accurate, the calorie burn is only ever an estimate - even if your model has a heart rate sensor. For those who enjoy a little friendly competition, many fitness trackers allow you to compete in challenges with friends (or strangers) using devices from the same brand. If you’re a competitive person, you may find the challenge of reaching a certain distance or step count every day motivates you to be more active. Looking for the best fitness tracker for a child? Our separate guide helps explain which models are most suitable for youngsters. Some apps also let you input the calories you’re consuming, helping you work out whether you’re eating more than you’re burning. You can sync your health data over Bluetooth, making it easy to see how active you’ve been each day via your smartphone or tablet app. ![]() These clever gadgets use this information - along with your height, weight, age and gender - to provide an estimate of how far you’re travelling each day and how many calories you’re burning, before pooling all of this data into daily and weekly reports for you to read. How do fitness trackers work?įitness trackers use a 3-axis accelerometer to determine whether you’re standing still, walking or making other movements, as well as counting the number of steps you’re taking. The NHS recommends that adults aged 19 to 64 undertake at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week, with brisk walks, dancing and even mowing the lawn counting towards your total.
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