Behavior Change Techniques Incorporated in Fitness Trackers: Content Analysis
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: The use of fitness trackers as tools of self-management to promote physical activity is increasing. However, the content of fitness trackers remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to use the Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy v1 (BCTTv1) to examine if swim-proof fitness trackers below Aus $150 (US$ 105) incorporate behavior change techniques (BCTs) that relate to self-management strategies to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior and to determine if content of the fitness trackers correspond to physical activity guidelines. METHODS: A total of two raters used the BCTTv1 to code 6 fitness trackers that met the inclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were the ability to track activity, be swim proof, be compatible with Android and Apple operating systems, and cost below Aus $150. RESULTS: All fitness trackers contained BCTs known to promote physical activity, with the most frequently used BCTs overlapping with self-management strategies, including goal setting, self-monitoring, and feedback on behavior. Fitbit Flex 2 (Fitbit Inc) contained the most BCTs at 20. Huawei Band 2 Pro (Huawei Technologies) and Misfit Shine 2 (Fossil Group) contained the least BCTs at 11. CONCLUSIONS: Fitness trackers contain evidence-based BCTs that overlap with self-management strategies, which have been shown to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior. Fitness trackers offer the prospect for physical activity interventions that are cost-effective and easily accessed by a wide population.
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Some behavioural intervention strategies might not be cost-prohibitive for individuals or unprofitable for the manufacturer.
“Some of these behavioural intervention strategies might not be cost-prohibitive for individuals or unprofitable for the manufacturer, which is encouraging108.”
From Smart wearable devices in cardiovascular care: Where we are and how to move forward (2021) · cites this paper as [108]
A study examining low-cost fitness trackers (defined as less than US$105) on the market showed no correlation between the cost of the device and the number of BCTs incorporated.
“Interestingly, a study examining low-cost fitness trackers (defined as <US$105) on the market showed no correlation between the cost of the device and the number of BCTs incorporated.”
From Smart wearable devices in cardiovascular care: Where we are and how to move forward (2021) · cites this paper as [108]
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- Authors
- Chia, G. L. C., Anderson, A., & McLean, L. A.
- Affiliations
- Monash University (AU)
- University of Waikato (NZ)
- Corresponding author
- Chia, Gladys Lai Cheng
- Venue
- JMIR mHealth and uHealth
- Publisher
- JMIR Publications Inc.
- Published
- 2019-07-23
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- e12768
- ISSN
- 2291-5222 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6683653
- OpenAlex
- W2962808436
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9
- FWCI
- 4.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- JMIR mhealth and uhealth (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Monash University Research Portal (Monash University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Research Commons (University of Waikato) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
- Keywords
- wearable activity trackers, behaviour change techniques, self-management strategies, physical activity promotion, sedentary behavior, goal setting, self-monitoring, physical activity guidelines, low-cost wearable device, Fitbit, misfit
- MeSH terms
- Fitness Trackers, Self-Management, Australia, Behavior Therapy, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Humans, Software Design, Exercise, Sedentary Behavior
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