Fitness trackers have become essential tools for many people to monitor their daily activity, particularly the calories burned. However, for individuals with obesity, these devices often provide inaccurate readings due to differences in walking gait, speed, and energy expenditure.
Now, researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new algorithm that allows smartwatches to better track the calories burned by people with obesity during physical activities.
The new technology addresses a significant gap in fitness tracking, according to Nabil Alshurafa, a professor at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. His lab, HABits Lab, designed and tested the algorithm, which is specifically tailored for individuals with obesity. The algorithm is open-source, transparent, and rigorously tested, allowing other researchers to build upon it. The next phase of the project involves launching an app later this year for both iOS and Android users.
“Current activity trackers often fail to provide accurate data for people with obesity,” said Alshurafa. “But with this new algorithm, people could gain more valuable health insights from their fitness devices.”
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