A University of Washington study on Fitbit user behavior, specifically on why some users stop using the fitness tracker, reveals device makers need to ensure such tools are not one-size-fits-all when it comes to user experience.
"Right now self-tracking apps tend to assume everyone will track forever, and that's clearly not the case," co-author James Fogarty, a UW associate professor of computer science and engineering, told Phys.org.
"Given that some people feel relief when they give it up, there may be better ways to help them get better value out of the data after they're done, or reconnect them to the app for weeklong check-ins or periodic tune-ups that don't presume they'll be doing this every day for the rest of their lives,” he said.
The study comes at a time of increasing competition in the fitness tracking industry as more consumers are taking a proactive approach to healthcare and providers are encouraging the use of devices.
Fitbit is trying to keep innovating, debuting a corporate program in early June called Fitbit Group Health, which provides services for payers, researchers, wellness partners and weight management professionals. The company called it a “natural evolution” to drive deeper into the population health space.
The UW study, which surveyed 141 Fitbit owners who abandoned the device, revealed half expressed guilt in stopping use, and nearly all who leave it in the drawer are interested in using it again.
Yet 21 percent found the device’s tracking features annoying and couldn’t connect data to behavior change. A good number, however, enjoyed data comparisons with peers, according to the study.