If you try to think of a tool that can help with weight loss a wearable activity tracker that monitors the kilojoules you burn is likely to be one of the first things that springs to mind. But, these wearable devices might not give you the weight loss edge you're after, a new study says.
According to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, after two years people who used activity trackers lost 2.5 kilograms less than those who relied on health counselling rather than a wearable device.
The 24-month study followed 471 overweight or obese adults between the ages of 18 and 35 who participated in a weight-loss program. The program included a low-kilojoule diet, prescribed increases in physical activity and group-counselling sessions on health and nutrition.
After the first six months, the participants were divided into two subgroups with one group continuing monthly health-counselling sessions and the other wearing a BodyMedia Fit activity tracker to monitor diet and physical activity for the remaining 18 months.
While both groups showed significant improvements in body composition, fitness, physical activity and diet, those who received the health counselling lost nearly twice as much weight as those who wore activity trackers. Why the surprising results?
One reason could be the health halo effect that comes with knowing how many kilojoules you've burnt. Simply owning and wearing an activity tracker can give people the perception that they are being healthy and as a trade-off may allow the wearer to indulge in certain foods that they wouldn't normally.
Many of us are familiar with this thought process – "I did 10,000 steps today so it's totally fine to eat a block of chocolate". The problem with this thought process is not all kilojoules are created equal. The nutrient content of foods affects how our body processes them and how many kilojoules we absorb. Studies suggest we may not absorb as much as 30 per cent of the fat found in nuts.
Then of course we need to consider just how much time throughout the day is actually spent being active. Sure you might be classified as physically active by pounding the pavement for 30 minutes a day, but if you spend the rest of the day sedentary you won't be doing your weight any favours. Research shows prolonged periods of sitting have detrimental effects on our waistlines.
And lastly, maybe the motivation to exercise wears off when the excitement of using a new gadget fades or your activity tracker continually tells you that yet again you have failed to meet your daily physical activity goal. Instead of comforting yourself with chocolate though, why not focus on consistency? Some say it's the key to long-term weight loss.
Caitlin Reid is an accredited practising dietitian