Measuring the Accuracy of Consumer-based Physical Activity Monitors

Undergraduate #126
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Physiology and Health

Deja Talton - Mississippi Valley State University
Co-Author(s): Rachel Beecham, Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS

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There are a number of consumer based physical activity monitors on the market. These devices vary in price and the measurements made. Most devices at a minimum count steps taken and distance traveled. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of the measurements of three devices of varying price ranges to the actual steps taken and distance traveled when walking. It is hypothesized that the FitBit one will be the most accurate for both tall and short subjects. The devices tested were two basic pedometers ($5), a Fitbit one ($80), and Steps iPhone Application (Free). Four men and four women volunteered for this experiment. Each subject walked a mile on the MVSU track wearing the 3 devices and counting their actual steps. Subjects were divided into two height classes (tall = 5’9 and above; short = 5’6 and under). The actual steps taken per mile walking for tall and short subjects were 1920 and 2640 respectively. It is said that the average person’s stride length is approximately 2.5 feet long. That means on the average it takes just over 2,000 steps to walk one mile. The Fitbit one was found to be the most accurate of the devices tested, but additional subjects and individual subjects repeating their performance would greatly improve our data. In future research, we plan on discovering other factors dealing with body type and height that may vary results. For example, the physical activity monitors counts a step by the jiggle of the hips when a person walks. So measuring a person hip size to see if a person with more hips gives a more accurate than a person who is more slim. Also, we want to use more devices that have recently come out to see if their step counts are accurate.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This project was funded by HBCU -UP II.

Faculty Advisor: Rachel Beecham,