Fitbit - How does this device track calories?

dakotababy

Hey. I was originally looking into purchasing a bodybugg, I am looking into a fitbit flex or fitbit one.

I am just wondering, how do these devices track calories? Does it go based off information/heart rate? Does it just guess? I just don't want to buy something that is inaccurate. I am only buying it to track daily calories as I have been stuck recently, and thought this sort of device would give me some perspective on what is going on.

Thanks!

mile626

It estimates your BMR based on height and weight, but it adds calories burned based on activity, which it estimates for each step.

Before I purchased mine, I asked two friends who have both devices. (I work with a group of people who are very interested in technology...) Both of them agreed that there was very little difference in the calories recorded by the fitbit and the bodybugg day after day. In general the difference was around 50-150 calories a day, with the bodybugg being more generous.

I'd say that given the small difference, I would go with the fitbit. It's cheaper and practically unnoticeable when worn.

LiftAllThePizzas

The fitbit goes off how much you move around (not just "steps" but any movement.) I've found that it's fairly accurate even when doing stuff like bicycling, and playing ping pong on the xbox. Since January I've been eating based on the calories it tells me I burned, and when I eat the number it gives me I maintain, when I eat less than that I lose, and when I eat more than that I gain.