A Stanford study found that if you're using a fitness tracker, the calorie feedback may be way off.
Think you torched 500 calories during spin class? You may have to think again. New research from Stanford University and the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences found that if you're measuring calorie burn using a wearable heart rate monitor and fitness tracker — such as the Apple Watch or Fitbit Surge — the calorie feedback may be way off.
“The point is, you're not burning as much as you think you are.”
Though six of the seven devices tested produced accurate heart rate readings (within 5 percent), even the most accurate tracker was off by an average of 27 percent when it came to measuring energy expenditure. The worst was off by 93 percent!
