Is Fitbit Calories Burned Accurate? [Explained!]

When you spend your hard-earned cash on a Fitbit, you want to know that the device’s major functions, such as the calorie counter, are accurate.

Since the Fitbit launched in September 2009, purchasers have been asking themselves this question.

The Fitbit was the main pioneer in this sort of technology at the time, gaining popularity in only a few years.

Is Fitbit Calories Burned Accurate? [Explained!]

Although no fitness tracker can accurately count calories burnt, the Fitbit is undoubtedly one of the most accurate. Fitbits only underestimated calorie burn by 4% while overestimating calories burnt by 50%.

As a result, it relies on the activities you engage in as well as the Fitbit model you use to count calories burnt.

While no fitness tracker can guarantee 100 percent accuracy when it comes to tracking calories, Fitbit’s calorie counting technology is certainly on par with, if not better than, anything else on the market these days.

As it turns out, the accuracy of the calories burnt tracker has been scientifically examined.

What did the researchers learn as a result of their efforts? Is it possible that certain Fitbit models are more accurate than others? 

When I was looking for a Fitbit, I was intrigued about this, so I began looking into the research that had been done on the Fitbit and some of its top rivals.

Allow me to explain what I learned regarding the Fitbit’s accuracy in tracking all those calories you burn.

When it comes to calorie burn, are Fitbits accurate?

When the Fitbit Charge 2 was investigated, it was discovered that activities had an impact on accuracy.

Calories burnt when running were much more precise than calories expended while strolling.

This research also looked at some of the less expensive fitness trackers on the market and discovered that the findings were really the opposite.As it is, the Fitbit is about as accurate as anything else now available.

Are some Fitbit models more accurate than others?

With a 25% error rate, the Fitbit Surge is one of the most accurate fitness monitors available.

Other Fitbits are slightly worse, and fitness trackers may be up to 93 percent inaccurate.

Although certain Apple Watches come close to matching the Fitbit Surge, they, too, have issues with erroneously measuring calories burnt.

Science, it turns out, isn’t perfect.

Let me explain why.

Fitness Trackers: An Imperfect Science

Why aren’t fitness trackers more precise when it comes to things like calorie monitoring since they’re so costly to buy? These trackers, on the other hand, can only offer you an estimate of how many calories you burn when undertaking a certain activity.

Each of these gadgets has its own algorithm that takes into account a variety of parameters that influence calorie burn.

The fitness tracker can only offer you an estimate of how many calories you can burn while exercising based on these criteria.

They can’t offer you a precise, error-free count — not even your gym’s treadmill can accomplish that. There is always the possibility of making a mistake.

What does Fitbit use to track calories burned?

When tracking your burnt calories, the Fitbit considers a number of variables.

Multiple factors are taken into account, ranging from your baseline metabolic rate to your heart rate when undertaking an activity.

Body’s Basal Metabolic Rate

How many calories do you expend to keep your body’s most basic processes running? This is what your basal metabolic rate is called.

It is unique to each individual and takes into consideration factors such as age, biological sex, height, and weight.

Because our BSRs varies, the way fitness trackers calculate calories burnt might be skewed.

We all burn calories differently and have varying degrees of fitness.Some of us even have varying degrees of fitness from day to day!

Exercise, Heart Rate, and Movement

Tracking your body’s movements isn’t an exact science, which adds to the margin of error.

For example, even when you’re doing steps and burning calories while pushing your shopping cart around the store, the Fitbit may not recognise it as walking.

When you change your watch even slightly, the Fitbit may misinterpret the action as a complete body movement and overestimate your activity.

How do other brands track calories burned compared to Fitbit?

Many of the less expensive fitness trackers on the market do not seem to measure expended calories as effectively as the Fitbit.

However, the fact that they are considerably better at walking suggests that you don’t have to pay more to receive more.

The Fitbit, on the other hand, is recognised for being more robust and for having more capabilities and features than these less expensive ones.

Is it even worth using a Fitbit?

Consider acquiring an older Fitbit if you don’t have much space in your budget.

Fitbits are generally excellent, and there are methods to save money when purchasing one.

Any fitness tracker may help you monitor key aspects of your routine, so don’t dismiss the notion of using a Fitbit just yet.

Closing Thoughts

Fitbits aren’t perfect, and they do have certain flaws when it comes to precisely calculating calories burned.

There are cheaper versions that may perform better, but they lack many other features and are not as durable.

Calorie tracking isn’t an exact science on any gadget, but when it comes to fitness trackers, the Fitbit is probably as near as you can go.