Wearing steps on your sleeve motivates movement

Wearable activity trackers inspire young people to become more active, but whether they help build healthy habits in the long run is still unclear.

Key Findings

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Wearable devices like Fitbits and smartwatches encourage young people aged 19 and under to take more steps, at least in the first few months of using them.
This increase in step count is seen across diverse groups of young people, including those living with conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
While wearables are good at getting young people to walk more, they don't seem to push them towards more intense activities like running or vigorous exercise.
It is still unclear whether wearing an activity tracker has long-term effects and if these devices need to be paired with ongoing motivational strategies to engage young people.

Source*

Au, W. W., Recchia, F., Fong, D. Y., Wong, S. H. S., Chan, D. K. C., Capio, C. M., Yu, C. C. W., Wong, S. W. S., Sit, C. H. P., Ip, P., Chen, Y.-J., Thompson, W. R., & Siu, P. M. (2024). Effect of wearable activity trackers on physical activity in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Digital Health, 6(9), e625–e639. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2589-7500(24)00139-0

*All evidence briefs are informed by one or more peer reviewed research studies. All study publications used to inform this article are listed at the bottom of this brief with links.

Two kids looking at watches sitting on a bench

Image: Maria Symchych photos via Canva.com

Mairead Ryan

9 Dec 2024

What's this about?

As wearable tech becomes more common, it's important to understand if and how these gadgets can be used to encourage healthy habits.

Wearable devices like Fitbits and smartwatches can help young people boost their daily step count, according to the first multi-country study investigating the impact of activity trackers among diverse groups of young people under 19.

The research finds that when these devices are paired with motivational strategies like step challenges, they can help promote behaviour change among the general population as well as young people living with health conditions.

However, while wearables seem to increase steps, they do not encourage more intense forms of movement like running.

These findings come at a time when many children and young people are not getting enough physical activity. Researchers often use wearables to study how young people move, but less known about whether these same devices could also encourage changes in activity habits.

To explore this, researchers from the University of Hong Kong analysed 21 studies involving nearly 4,000 young participants (age range 7-25) across countries like the UK, Ireland, and the US.¹ Some studies focused on young people sampled from the general population, while others included participants with specific health conditions like Type 1 diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

Across all of these studies, wearables were used alongside other strategies, such as step challenges, competitions, and other motivational elements. The team could not isolate the effects of activity trackers alone, but they highlight these bands usually come with motivational messaging. Therefore, they believe this closely reflects real-world scenarios.

Further research is needed to understand if factors such as someone's age or gender impact the effects of wearables. Additionally, the longest study lasted 12 months, meaning it is not possible to say if wearing a tracker in the long run would help encourage behaviour change.

Currently, there is no recommended step goal for young people. However, studies show that more steps are linked with lower obesity rates² and improved fitness levels.³

Research Toolkit

What do wearables mean for young people’s health?

Key Findings

BOOSTING STEPS WITH WEARABLES: Wearable devices like Fitbits and smartwatches can effectively promote more physical activity among young people. Their use, where feasible, may help increase daily steps!
WATCH THE AGE GAP: Current research primarily focuses on secondary school students. We still need to explore how younger children engage with these devices and what facilitates them to be active.
INSPIRING STEPS: Wearables alone might not cut it – motivational strategies like competitions and leader boards may be needed to get kids moving.
GOING BEYOND STEPS: It is important to continue encouraging more intense forms of movement, like running, skipping, and jumping, that provide distinct and important benefits to young people.

What Else

UNCERTAIN LONG-TERM IMPACT: The long-term effectiveness of wearables is unclear. A mix of strategies, including changes to the physical environment and incorporating movement into daily life, may be necessary to foster lasting healthy habits.
SUSTAINABLE HEALTH PROMOTION: Many schools and parents lack the resources to purchase wearable devices. It’s crucial to find sustainable ways to promote physical activity without relying solely on tech. Active travel, energisers, and brain breaks are all good bets.
ENGAGING FAMILIES FOR BETTER HEALTH: Involving families in discussions about physical activity can help align current activity levels with recommended targets. Promoting at least 30 minutes of home-based activity daily can foster healthier habits among young people.
STUDENT-LED USE: As wearable devices become more prevalent in monitoring young people's health, it's crucial to develop any tracking or activity-promoting initiatives in collaboration with young users to ensure comfort and minimise any potential negative impacts.