Systematic review of the validity and reliability of consumer-wearable activity trackers
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Consumer-wearable activity trackers are electronic devices used for monitoring fitness- and other health-related metrics. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence for validity and reliability of popular consumer-wearable activity trackers (Fitbit and Jawbone) and their ability to estimate steps, distance, physical activity, energy expenditure, and sleep. METHODS: Searches included only full-length English language studies published in PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and Google Scholar through July 31, 2015. Two people reviewed and abstracted each included study. RESULTS: In total, 22 studies were included in the review (20 on adults, 2 on youth). For laboratory-based studies using step counting or accelerometer steps, the correlation with tracker-assessed steps was high for both Fitbit and Jawbone (Pearson or intraclass correlation coefficients (CC) > =0.80). Only one study assessed distance for the Fitbit, finding an over-estimate at slower speeds and under-estimate at faster speeds. Two field-based studies compared accelerometry-assessed physical activity to the trackers, with one study finding higher correlation (Spearman CC 0.86, Fitbit) while another study found a wide range in correlation (intraclass CC 0.36-0.70, Fitbit and Jawbone). Using several different comparison measures (indirect and direct calorimetry, accelerometry, self-report), energy expenditure was more often under-estimated by either tracker. Total sleep time and sleep efficiency were over-estimated and wake after sleep onset was under-estimated comparing metrics from polysomnography to either tracker using a normal mode setting. No studies of intradevice reliability were found. Interdevice reliability was reported on seven studies using the Fitbit, but none for the Jawbone. Walking- and running-based Fitbit trials indicated consistently high interdevice reliability for steps (Pearson and intraclass CC 0.76-1.00), distance (intraclass CC 0.90-0.99), and energy expenditure (Pearson and intraclass CC 0.71-0.97). When wearing two Fitbits while sleeping, consistency between the devices was high. CONCLUSION: This systematic review indicated higher validity of steps, few studies on distance and physical activity, and lower validity for energy expenditure and sleep. The evidence reviewed indicated high interdevice reliability for steps, distance, energy expenditure, and sleep for certain Fitbit models. As new activity trackers and features are introduced to the market, documentation of the measurement properties can guide their use in research settings.
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Questions remain as to the accuracy and validity of data collected from wearables.
“yet questions remain as to the accuracy and validity of data collected from wearables35,36.”
From Guidelines for wrist-worn consumer wearable assessment of heart rate in biobehavioral research (2020) · cites this paper as [35]
Most research on wearable device accuracy has primarily focused on estimates of energy expenditure.
“Most research has primarily focused on the accuracy of estimates of EE [7-12].”
From Estimating Accuracy at Exercise Intensities: A Comparative Study of Self-Monitoring Heart Rate and Physical Activity Wearable Devices (2017) · cites this paper as [9]
Existing validation studies have largely been completed on devices considered outdated, such as earlier Fitbit models (One, Zip, Flex, Ultra), Jawbone Up, and Nike FuelBand.
“However, given the pace of technological change, these existing studies have largely been completed on devices that would be considered outdated, such as earlier Fitbit models (One, Zip, Flex, Ultra), Jawbone Up, and the Nike FuelBand.”
From Estimating Accuracy at Exercise Intensities: A Comparative Study of Self-Monitoring Heart Rate and Physical Activity Wearable Devices (2017) · cites this paper as [9]
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- Authors
- Evenson, K. R., Goto, M. M., & Furberg, R. D.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- RTI International (US)
- Corresponding author
- Evenson, Kelly R.
- Venue
- International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Published
- 2015-12
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 159-159
- ISSN
- 1479-5868 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4683756
- OpenAlex
- W2220182234
- Cited by
- 1,232
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 54 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 100 · 2023: 106 · 2022: 104 · 2021: 145 · 2020: 176 · 2019: 156 · 2018: 158 · 2017: 130 · 2016: 51 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 13.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- RTI International (US) (none)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Context-Aware Activity Recognition Systems
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Keywords
- Fitbit, jaw bone, measurement validity, measurement reliability, step counting, distance estimation, physical activity estimation, energy expenditure estimation, sleep estimation, indirect calorimetry, polysomnography, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset
- MeSH terms
- Energy Metabolism, Female, Humans, Male, Running, Sleep, Reproducibility of Results, Walking, Monitoring, Ambulatory, Validation Studies as Topic, Accelerometry
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