Trackers helped adults move more, but the evidence is low quality.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   3,646 adults in 9 countries took part in 28 trials, with average ages from about 18 to about 80. Thirteen trials had young adults, 15 had middle-aged adults and one had people over 65.

2. 02

   What they did

   Some groups used a tracker alone. Others used one as part of a wider programme, such as counselling, group classes or rewards. The other groups kept their usual routine, waited to start, used a basic pedometer or got other advice. Two trials lasted 12 months or more.

3. 03

   What happened

   Trackers helped people take about 627 more steps a day, spend more time in moderate and vigorous activity and burn more energy. Sitting time did not change clearly. All four results were rated low or very low quality, and the abstract and results give slightly different numbers.

What the review found

1. Helped

   Across 11 studies, people who used an activity tracker took more steps a day than the other groups did.

   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Rule: Get feedback on your progresstested

   Pooled analysis of 11 studies · vs groups without a tracker · behaviour was recorded · the authors rated their certainty low · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. Helped

   Across 12 studies, people with a tracker spent more time at moderate and hard effort than other groups.

   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Rule: Get feedback on your progresstested

   Pooled analysis of 12 studies · vs groups without a tracker · the authors rated their certainty very low · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

3. Helped

   Across 5 studies, people who used a tracker burned more energy each week than the other groups did.

   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Rule: Get feedback on your progresstested

   Pooled analysis of 5 studies · vs groups without a tracker · they rated themselves · the authors rated their certainty low · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

4. No difference

   Across 7 studies, people who used a tracker did not clearly sit less than the other groups did.

   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Rule: Get feedback on your progresstested

   Pooled analysis of 7 studies · vs groups without a tracker · the authors rated their certainty very low · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source