TAKE THE POLL: CLICK HERE
A study published in August 2023 by the National Institute of Health website argued that some people develop bad behaviors based on inaccurate data from health devices.
Wearable technologies that are said to help with your health are everywhere these days. Whether it’s as simple as a step-counter or complex as multiple different monitors, combined with the data from a smart watch, you must always take your data with a grain of salt. “Expert opinion articles have noted that inaccurate or incomplete data from wearables can lead to behaviors that harm health,” wrote the researchers of the 2023 study, adding that “a concern that is exacerbated by exaggerated marketing claims that have sometimes been identified in validation studies of popular devices.” (POPULAR POST: Consumers Appear ‘Less Confident’ Going Into 2025)
Scary Example
The authors used a terrifying example to illustrate their point. Imagine you’ve been diagnosed with a heart condition. You’re in the middle of a workout and your chest starts hurting. You check your smart watch/device and it says your heart is well within normal, healthy limits, so you carry on working out.
Then BOOM. You’re dead. Your smart device wasn’t attached properly so the reading was faulty. You were actually having a heart attack. (TAKE A POLL: Do You Usually Stay Home For New Year’s Eve?)
“Others have raised the possibility of maladaptive health behaviors that can result from using wearables in medically healthy individuals, such as overexercising and disordered eating, or maladaptive changes to health care utilization,” the authors noted, suggesting anyone who uses apps or devices to track their health should also understand how to do so without these devices.
How Do You Feel?
Take action by using your voice today. Did you know that lawmakers, business leaders, and even public servants use polling data to inform their policies and practices? These might seem like simple questions, but answering them can have far-reaching impacts on the world around you.
Don’t let your voice be lost in the ether of the Internet! Take control and take back your power today by signing up to take a poll — take all of them if you like!