How Does A Fitbit Work? | Fitness Trackers FAQ

With wearable devices becoming a normal thing, it’s no surprise that fitness trackers are also becoming more popular. Fitbits and fitness trackers can be a big help with keeping track of how many steps you’ve taken, how far you’ve run, or even how many calories you’ve burned. So what exactly is a Fitbit and why do so many people have one? How does a Fitbit work? Let us help by answering some burning questions you might have about Fitbit.

7 Frequently Asked Questions About Fitbit | What It Is and How It Works

What Is a Fitbit?

A Fitbit can simply be described as an activity or fitness tracker. It’s a wearable device similar to a smartwatch and has the ability to track your movements and activity. You might say it’s a glorified pedometer, but it has many more useful features than just tracking your steps. Fitbit also has different models ranging from your standard fitness tracker to a smartwatch that can even coach you through your workouts.

What Does a Fitbit Do?

Just like any fitness tracker, it has the ability to keep track of your steps and heart rate. A Fitbit device also has the ability to compute floors climbed, distance traveled, blood pressure, and calories burned. The smartwatch versions of the Fitbit also serve as a workout assistant, coaching you through the moves of your personalized workout. Some Fitbit models even have the ability to track your position using GPS and is able to retrace your steps from your last run.

How Does a Fitbit Work?

The most basic function of a Fitbit is tracking your steps by using a 3-axis accelerometer to detect your movements. Depending on your model, some Fitbits also track your heart rate using a sensor on the side of the Fitbit that comes in contact with your skin. The LED lights shine on your skin to monitor the blood vessels and detect blood volume changes. Using complex algorithms and calculations, a Fitbit can also calculate how far you’ve run, the number of steps taken, and the number of floors you’ve climbed.

Is Fitbit Accurate?

Because of the sensors on the Fitbit and its algorithms, all the data recorded on your workout are all estimates. Fitbit measures your steps based on the intensity and frequency of your arm and body movements. For example, if you keep your arms still while you walk, none of the steps you took will be measured by the Fitbit.

All the data it keeps track of are all computed based on the readings of your movements and heart rate. The accuracy of heart rate sensors has also been steadily improving over the years, but since it just tracks it through your skin, it can’t give you a 100% accurate reading, especially during intense workouts.

Is a Fitbit Waterproof?

All the models of the Fitbit are water-resistant, allowing you to take it with you in the shower or on a rainy day run. Depending on the Fitbit model, you can even take it with you for a swim. Advertised as “swim-proof,” the smartwatch versions of the Fitbit can even help coach you through your laps around the pool. An example of this is the Fitbit Versa, which is both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker.

How Does a Fitbit Track Calories?

When you first set up your Fitbit, it asks for your basic information like age, height, and weight. Using all your information and data tracked from your pedometer and heart rate monitor, it calculates an estimated value of how many calories you burned during your last workout or run. Some Fitbit models can also store the calorie information for a few days to give you an idea of how many calories you’re burning over the course of a week.

Does a Fitbit Work on an Elliptical?

When the Fitbit was first released, it couldn’t track workouts from elliptical machines. With a major update to its sensors two years ago, Fitbits can now automatically detect what kind of workout you’re doing, including a workout using an elliptical. By adding what they call “SmartTrack” to newer models, a Fitbit can differentiate from a range of different workouts like, running, cycling, elliptical machines, and more.

Now that you know what a Fitbit does, get one to help you keep track of how many calories you’ve been burning. With all the data tracking and even the workout assistance a Fitbit can give you, it can be a perfect companion during your next run or intense workout session. Although not perfectly accurate, it can still help you keep track of those workout goals you’re working towards.

Do you still have any questions regarding Fitbit or fitness trackers? Discuss more in the comments section.

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