How accurate is the Fitbit?

Mslmesq

I just got my Fitbit flex 2. I used to have a very high end and accurate pedometer. I feel like it did a really good job of measuring my steps.

I'm wondering how accurate the Fitbit is. I feel like it's counting steps sometimes when I don't take them. Like when I'm driving. Has anyone measured against a high end pedometer? Or anyone have thoughts on accuracy?

Tia.

heybales

Anything that can appear like enough impact of a step - can be logged as a step.

Accuracy on steps vary, because devices on wrists are actually attempting to see that impact despite the arm swing, some people walk in such a manner to causes misses.

Driving sure can, my bike rides rack of tons of steps on my hip that have nothing to do with steps, total inaccuracy. (for calories, I manually log the workout of course to correct that issue).

Driving, especially bouncing vehicle, sure can - hence an activity calling Driving to 0 out that time. Or apps you hit a start/stop button that do it for you.

Lots of sudden arm movements can cause steps too.

Is there a purpose for super accurate step counts?

Because steps is one stat - the distance calculated from them is entirely something else, and that's where calories comes from for non-HR-based calorie burn times.

Mslmesq

Thanks for responding. I just have the general fitbit app, so I don't know if it lets me turn it off while driving.

I guess there is no reason for a super accurate count. I just thought it would be more accurate to calories if it was more accurate. And mfp seems to be crediting me ALOT of calories based on my activity, which doesn't seem right.

KANGOOJUMPS

yep,, movement makes it go.

heybales

Mslmesq wrote: »

Thanks for responding. I just have the general fitbit app, so I don't know if it lets me turn it off while driving.

I guess there is no reason for a super accurate count. I just thought it would be more accurate to calories if it was more accurate. And mfp seems to be crediting me ALOT of calories based on my activity, which doesn't seem right.

No, the app has no ability to stop the device from counting steps during activity you know will generate bogus steps.

That's why I mentioned you can log Driving for time span as workout and it'll wipe out steps, or other apps work with Fitbit and allow hitting a button to start/stop driving time - and that app corrects Fitbit.

And yes, steps can lead to more accuracy on calories.
Actually, step impact leads to a distance calculation.
Distance and time is pace.
Pace and weight is accurate calculation of calories.

So of course it start with steps.
But bigger factor is stride length if it's not right for walking at the pace you do the majority of your day (not exercise level pace, not grocery store shuffle pace).
That can be tested at a track or known distance to confirm or correct.

The bogus steps are usually given such small distance, and therefore calorie burn - they are meaningless in the scheme of things.

Your food nutrition labels are allowed to have upwards of 20% inaccuracy in them - that probably bigger deal.
And if you don't weigh your foods, but measure them - you are likely way out - and bogus steps won't improve that inaccuracy.

As far as the MFP's adjustment to calories - what is your basis for thinking it's high?

Most people have no experience with calories or burning or eating even.

Did you log accurately what you use to eat before you started to diet, where your weight was likely decently stable?
That's how much you burned each day - and it's probably way higher than you would ever have guessed.

And you are probably moving more now, right, then before - so burning even more.

Just wondering - because "doesn't seem right" doesn't seem to be an experienced comment.
How many steps you getting, how much distance to the day?
What are the other workouts it may or may not see with steps (like swimming, lifting, biking, elliptical, stairs, ect?)

SezxyStef

I don't think just movement counts the steps in the newer models.

I have a charge and a flex and find that it is the impact of my foot hitting the ground that counts the step more so than anything else.

I have done a brief test one day and just moved my arm a lot while I was driving...didn't record 1 step.

I just tried again sitting at my desk...moving arm etc nadda.
I rolled my chair across my office using my feet and it counted 7 steps..

heybales

Uh oh, are you going to start rolling your chair around the office, spinning and such - and claiming you are merely getting your steps in?