Comparison of steps and energy expenditure assessment in adults of Fitbit Tracker and Ultra to the Actical and indirect calorimetry
Abstract
Epidemic levels of inactivity are associated with chronic diseases and rising healthcare costs. To address this, accelerometers have been used to track levels of activity. The Fitbit and Fitbit Ultra are some of the newest commercially available accelerometers. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Fitbit and Fitbit Ultra. Twenty-three subjects were fitted with two Fitbit and Fitbit Ultra accelerometers, two industry-standard accelerometers and an indirect calorimetry device. Subjects participated in 6-min bouts of treadmill walking, jogging and stair stepping. Results indicate the Fitbit and Fitbit Ultra are reliable and valid for activity monitoring (step counts) and determining energy expenditure while walking and jogging without an incline. The Fitbit and standard accelerometers under-estimated energy expenditure compared to indirect calorimetry for inclined activities. These data suggest the Fitbit and Fitbit Ultra are reliable and valid for monitoring over-ground energy expenditure.
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Five studies (50 comparisons) reported interdevice reliability for energy expenditure, with analyzed sample sizes ranging from 13 to 29.
“Five studies (50 comparisons) reported on interdevice reliability [85,113,116,117,166], with analyzed sample sizes ranging from 13 [117] to 29 [113].”
From Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: Systematic Review (2020) · cites this paper as [85]
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 [11]
Existing validation studies have largely been completed on devices considered outdated, such as earlier Fitbit models (One, Zip, Flex, Ultra), Jawbone Up, and Nike FuelBand.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pace of technological change, these existing studies have largely been completed on devices that would be considered outdated, such as earlier Fitbit models (One, Zip, Flex, Ultra), Jawbone Up, and the Nike FuelBand.”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 [11]
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- Authors
- Adam Noah, J., Spierer, D. K., Gu, J., & Bronner, S.
- Affiliations
- Long Island University (US)
- Northeastern University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-09-05
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 456-462
- ISSN
- 0309-1902 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-522X
- OpenAlex
- W2006655881
- Cited by
- 202
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 6
- FWCI
- 10.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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, accelerometer, step counting, energy expenditure, activity monitoring, reliability and validity, Actical, indirect calorimetry, treadmill walking, jogging, stair stepping, physical activity
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Calorimetry, Indirect, Energy Metabolism, Female, Humans, Male, Monitoring, Physiologic, Exercise, Young Adult
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