Wearable fitness bands are extremely popular in today’s digital age, with over 60 million active users just in India. And India ranks third in the most revenue generated from wearable, sensor-driven fitness trackers that are used to calculate and record body metrics.
Source – https://www.statista.com/outlook/319/119/wearables/india#market-revenue
But are they a threat to data security? Are there health risks in using them?
This blog discusses the potential risks of owning a fitness band, the effects of using them, and analyses how and when they can be worth your investment.
Take a look at our blog, Fitness Trackers – How Do They Work, to understand how fitness trackers/bands usually function.
WHAT DATA DO FITNESS BANDS COLLECT?
Fitness trackers can monitor heart rate, sleep cycle, steps walked, calories burnt, physical activities engaged in, and so on. It can even send you reminders to be more active if you are sedentary.
And for all this information, brands may collect from you the following data:
- Location and financial information – It can use your permission to track location and may even have information about payment methods and other financial data.
- Social media information – It may access your social media and can encourage you to share your daily activity with your social circle to attract more people into making this the norm.
- Health information – Your health-related data could be shared with advertisers and insurance agencies to show you tailored ads.
While companies urge ethical practices to ensure data security and privacy, the fact is that many users do not know how their data is being used.
So, always make sure you understand how companies utilize your data before you purchase their product.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF USING FITNESS BANDS?
Today’s fitness bands are available for everyone at affordable prices. And for most people, these fitness bands have become a constant companion that helps them reach their fitness goals and maintain health.
But all devices have downsides and here are some aspects to keep in mind while using such fitness devices:
- Avoid over-dependency – If you find that you are dependent on this tracker so much that your self-value is defined by you reaching those daily goals, then it may be time to take a step back and re-evaluate how you use your fitness band.
- Watch out for inaccuracy – Fitness bands may not always be accurate. So, relying on them too much could hurt your health through misconceptions and faulty calculations.
ARE FITNESS BANDS WORTH IT?
Despite possible risks, it is undeniable that fitness bands and activity trackers are gaining momentum. This is because it offers amazing advantages to regular people who simply want to monitor their health and motivate themselves to keep fit every day.
So, fitness bands are worth it, provided you understand that they are not a solution to health problems, but simply a tool to help you with your fitness journey.
Do you use fitness trackers? How have they helped you on your journey?
