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Science-backed reasons to question the safety of digital fitness trackers like the Fitbit and how to protect yourself if you choose to use one.
A Fitbit is a type of electronic device used for personal activity tracking. These wireless-enabled, wearable devices measure data such as the number of steps walked, quality of sleep, and other personal metrics.
The Fitbit was developed by the company of the same name founded and managed by James Park and Eric Friedman.
Since then, a proliferation of various styles and models have taken the workout world by storm. There are now similar knock-off devices crafted for every personality and need.
The very simple Fitbit Zip, which is about the size of a quarter, tracks only steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned. The sophisticated Fitbit Flex, which is worn 24 hours a day even while showering and swimming, tracks all its wearer’s movement including sleep patterns.
There are Fitbit apps for the iPhone and Android too which allow fans to log their food, activities, water intake, and weight, as well as track their fitness goals throughout the day even while offline.
While these types of devices may seem like a very helpful tool to keep people motivated and moving toward exercise goals, I don’t personally use one. I also don’t recommend them to people who ask me about them (by the way, a fascia blaster isn’t healthy either).
Here are my science-backed reasons.
Exercise is About Relaxation, Movement and Stress Reduction
For me, exercise is primarily about movement, relaxation, and stress reduction. It frees the mind from the cares of the day for a short period of time.
Adding a lot of data and personal activity tracking to the mix is decidedly un-relaxing to me. I don’t want my every breath, step and heartbeat chronicled, tracked, and categorized as I go through my workout whether it be a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood or a high-intensity rebounding session on our outdoor trampoline.
Tracking my steps around the house as I do laundry, cook, and wash dishes seems very over the top and rather invasive too. Can’t we just enjoy our exercise and daily activities without having to micromanage and examine every aspect under a microscope?
This takes much of the joy, relaxation and ultimately, health benefits out of it, in my opinion!
Exercise is not primarily about weight loss either at least to me. It’s about getting the blood pumping to facilitate the body’s detoxification mechanisms and to build and maintain muscle, fitness, and balance. Simple burning of calories may help you lose weight but this alone never got anyone healthy, so why bother tracking exercise at such an elementary, two-dimensional level?
While some may find Fitbits helpful to the exercise process, to me, they detract from the psychological benefits of exercise enjoyment by micromanaging what should be experienced in an expansive manner.
Fitbit: Unnecessary Exposure to EMF Radiation
There are pictures available that show actual wireless radiation surrounding a person using a wireless-enabled device. You can see photographer Luis Hernan’s incredible photos here.
While it is basically impossible to get away from the constant bathing of the body in wireless radiation while at work or in a public place, exercise particularly in the outdoors offers a prime opportunity for rest and release from the onslaught of electromagnetic fields (EMF) for a brief period of time.
It makes no sense, at least to me, to be hooked up to a device like a Fitbit that emits any sort of EMF radiation while exercising which is already putting the body under physical stress from sweating and detoxification.
A Fitbit that people wear while sleeping seems most dangerous of all. There is absolutely no data proving the safety of these devices during sleep even though the user manuals claim that “This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment.”
Quality sleep is very important for maintaining a healthy weight. Research has shown that poor quality sleep causes weight problems. Even just a few nights of poor sleep can lead to almost immediate weight gain. (1)
Are Fitbit night wearers undoing daytime weight loss efforts?
In fact, sleep and good health are so inextricably linked that many holistic medical practitioners recommend turning all wireless sources off at night with some going so far as to recommend flipping the entire house breaker until morning! The reason? The EMF radiation swirling around you may negatively affect sleep in a very profound way over the long term.
I’ve written before about how wireless baby monitors aren’t a good idea for sleeping babies. Fitbits worn during sleep transmitting data via wireless are a bad idea for similar reasons.
According to PowerWatch, a wireless baby monitor at less than 1 meter away from the baby’s crib was roughly equivalent to cell tower radiation standing only 150 meters (about one-tenth of a mile) away. (2)
How much worse would a wireless-enabled Fitbit be that is worn on your physical person as you exercise or sleep?
Metal in Your Mouth Can Make the Problem Worse
Interestingly, if you have dental amalgams (silver fillings) or titanium implants, this may make the wireless radiation from constantly wearing a digital fitness device even more problematic. According to Lina Garcia, DDS, DMD:
When considering the numerous reasons for the increasing prevalence of chronic illness in our society, I think that we should not overlook the possibility that metal-containing dental work, especially titanium implants, could be acting like antennas for the microwave [which includes wireless] transmissions going on between our cell phones and all of the cell phone towers in our 21st century environment.
… it is important to be aware that metal dental restorations and implants have already been shown to cause galvanic and electromagnetic stress for the human body. Galvanic and electromagnetic stress occurs when an unnatural electric current is generated by metal ions interacting with the electrolyte-rich fluid known as saliva. (3)
If you doubt that you are surrounded by very strong wireless radiation while wearing a wireless-enabled device be it a cell phone or a Fitbit, you can now download an app that will give you a colorful visual on those waves invisibly surrounding you with blue indicating the strongest wireless radiation down to red which indicates the weakest signal.
Heavy Metal Exposure?
In March 2014, the Consumer Product Safety Commission officially recalled the Fitbit Force due to injuries to an estimated 9,900 people. These customers suffered from skin irritations such as blisters, rashes, and peeling skin after the continual wearing of the Fitbit Force for a period of time. Fitbit stated that after consulting with medical professionals, the general assessment is that the skin problems were likely allergic reactions to nickel, an alloy in the stainless steel or adhesives used to assemble the Fitbit Force.
While it is well known that ingesting heavy metals like nickel can cause health problems, what is less well known is that the skin can absorb heavy metals too. (4, 5)
Cooking acidic foods in stainless steel is known to leech alloys like nickel into the food, but could stainless steel placed on the skin which is normally acidic at a pH of 4.5-5.5 leech metals too? Even minute amounts of heavy metals in the body can have negative health consequences so this is far from a trivial concern. (6)
Until there are more research and definitive answers to this question, it seems prudent to be wary of products like the Fitbit Force that expose the skin to heavy metals for extended periods of time.
Must Have a Fitbit?
If you find that despite any health concerns, you simply must have a digital fitness device to track personal activities, my suggestion would be to seek one of the older models that work mechanically rather than digitally.
For example, a basic mechanical pedometer counts steps by measuring how much the body shakes. An internal object moves up and down with the motion of the person wearing the pedometer, which senses the vibrations of feet hitting the floor. As the ball moves, it activates a switch that clicks the counter forward.
You can tell that you have a mechanical pedometer as it will work simply by shaking it even without any walking involved.
My Experience Using a Fitbit Scale
While I don’t wear a Fitbit like device for the reasons cited above, I did use a Fitbit scale once a few months back. These devices measure BMI, body fat and other health statistics by sending an electrical signal through the body.
While the companies making these scales insist the signal shot through the body to gather the data is safe, the scale isn’t recommended for pregnant women, children under 10, or anyone with an implanted medical device.
Mmmmm.
While I do not consider myself EMF sensitive in any way, I felt immediately light-headed and fatigued after having my health statistics gathered by the Fitbit scale. The experience really surprised me, as I didn’t expect a single-use to produce such a reaction. I didn’t feel right until a number of hours later.
Needless to say, I won’t be using a Fitbit type of scale again in the future!
Electronic Weight Loss Device Use is a Personal Decision
While choosing to use products like the Fitbit ultimately is a personal decision like whether or not to put a cellphone up to your head, in my book, it seems important to learn to switch off from our constant exposure to electronic devices and EMF radiation.
Exercise and sleep are the most obvious times to give yourself both a mental and physical break from EMF exposure.
Do you use a Fitbit? What are your reasons for doing so and do the potential health risks concern you?
References
(1) Lost Sleep Can Lead to Weight Gain
(2) Strength of Microwave Technologies
(3) Has Your Dental Work Turned You Into a Walking Antenna?
(4) Heavy Metal Toxicity Raises Risk of EMF Sensitivity
(5) The Health Hazards of Heavy Metals
(6) Toxic Metals Is This Why You’re Feeling Sick?
More Information
Are AMR Devices Safer than Smart Meters?
The Dangers of Induction Stoves (and what to buy instead)
Reducing Exposure to Dirty Electricity
Harvard MD Speaks Out about the Health Dangers of Smart Meters
How to Protect Yourself from a Smart Meter
I have owned a Fitbit Force for a few months and it has made me much more conscious of how little movement I was getting with a desk job and two hour daily commute. So seeing my steps has helped me decide to be much more active, a positive. My phone allows me to turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, even though the basic phone connection is still active, so I don’t know how much difference that makes.
I thought it was interesting, in an article about the dangers of EMF exposure, that Sarah recommended downloading an app to check radiation exposure. (Won’t downloading and using the app exposure you to more radiation??) But I agree it’s an important issue to be aware of, and I just might return my Force and go to a manual pedometer as a result!
Thank you for this article! I’ve used a FitBit intermittently for the past couple of years (I have an older model), and while seeing my step count increase is motivating, I find obsessing over the numbers very easy to do. As you said, this is far from the destressing experience exercise should be! I also have been concerned about the EMF exposure. I have been thinking about buying a new model to replace my aging one, but you just helped me decide to save my money.
Very nice post. Thank you!
Obviously the Wi-fi radiation is affecting not only the person who is wearing this device, but also anyone who is close to them. I was wondering if you would have an advice on how to ask somebody to turn their device off, if they ave to sit /stand close to you.
And on the same note – how do I ask my neighbor to turn their wifi down, or shut it off at night? Their signal is stronger in my bedroom then any on my own devices. And I turn mine off at night. I don’t know these people, and have no idea how to explain my convenes and what can be done in this situation.
Thanks!
This is a very tough question as the mainstream public still doesn’t really recognize the potential and very real health risks from EMF overexposure. I believe there are devices that clear EMF waves from a certain area.
Daisy, it might not be easy. I use my Kindle when I drop off to sleep, for a few minutes — having just that one sort of light source rather than a whole light to read a physical book or magazine helps me go into sleep faster these days. AND I am one of those (not really so unusual) people who awaken at one or two in the morning, partially for the bathroom, and just because it’s a cycle. Again, surfing around to places like this site helps me fall back to sleep.
I don’t use a Fitbit or any other device, although I’d like to try one for a week, just to get an idea of my patterns. (It’s the same theory I have for tracking food… do it briefly to know your parameters, then just stop and work with what you’ve learned.)
But with Fitbits, I find the theory rather invasive of privacy, even if the data they collect is aggregated.
Probably I should worry about EMF’s, but right now there are enough other concerns.
Yes, I know, late in the game. But here’s some information for you. I’ve never seen a router available through retail that allows one to basically dial down the signal strength like you seem to be describing; without specialized equipment, it’s pretty much all (on) or nothing (off).
There are two half-ways and one true way to “clear” a router signal from an area. You can create a signal that cancels out their signal (think noise-canceling headphones), but that’s not really removing the waves from the area, rather adding more — hence the 1/2. Water is also said to block all but the lowest RF frequencies; a layer of water one foot thick surrounding your house might do the job.
The only way to truly block the signal is RF shielding, essentially turning your house, or at least your bedroom, into one large Faraday cage. Aluminum foil doesn’t work as well as Hollywood would have you believe, but copper does. Copper foil would block a lot but thin copper sheet is probably adequate for standard wi-fi signal. But we all know how pricey copper is getting these days (supposedly there’s a special kind of “paint” that does the same, but reports are mixed). Send a line from your shielding to the ground and any signal hitting your house is neutralized.
Of course, there are two important things involved. There can be no gaps in coverage, which means no windows or vents and very carefully shielded doors. It also blocks any other signals going in or out (no cellphone calls).
Considering the relative weakness of wi-fi signals, It’s not worth it to me. Seems like there are bigger risks that are much more manageable to focus my attention on.
You can buy a bed canopy that blocks EMF waves. They are expensive, but that might be your best bet since there is little else you can do.
I wear a FitBit Flex and keep it on during sleep. Mainly because I forgot and eventually lost other pedometers I have used in the past. Pedometers help me stay motivated to be active and exercise. They also make it fun to compete with friends that have similar devices. Interesting points about the EMF radiation. I’ve been concerned about it from all of my home’s electronic devices and the power lines that flank the outdoor running trail I use. Weighing the pros and cons and considering I’m likely already swimming in EMF radiation, in the city in my high-rise condo, I’ll keep my Flex for now until exercise is naturally a more integrated and effortless part of my life and my butt’s a little smaller :).
If we really want to keep it simple – use a manual odometer (powered by a battery) and keep moving until you reach 10,000 steps. I don’t recall why 10,000 steps is the desired goal yet that is the figure I’ve seen in articles. Even if it’s not accurate to the nth degree – it’s one less radiation source to contend with.
I use the Omron pedometer which is the most accurate pedometer out there hands down! It is ran off of a battery. I love it! I am a huge believer in 10000 steps plus for health, not killing yourself but getting in extra steps like parking further away, etc.. A sedentary lifestyle has almost killed me so YES again I do believe this is saving my life!
Came here for HHE’s opinion on pedometers and got your recommendation for a good model. Thanks!! Are you still using your Omron?
I have to point out a glaring inaccuracy in this post. Fitbits do not transmit data via wifi (the scale is different) but the activity trackers do not use wifi. They use bluetooth. While there may be dangers from this, there are different kinds of bluetooth transmitters that have different amounts of power. Additionally, you can decide if you even want to activate the bluetooth in activity trackers, it is not necessarily enabled by default. they way you write about this seems like a scare tactic rather than actually providing factual information so people can make their own decisions.
The definition of bluetooth is “a standard for the short-range wireless interconnection of cellular phones, computers, and other electronic devices.” Wireless is Wi-Fi.
Correct – devices are either wired or wireless, those that are wireless, including ‘blutooth’ are Wi-Fi – there was no ‘glaring inaccuracy’ in the post. Fitbit data is synced via Wi-Fi
I like your articles regarding food Sarah, so please don’t think I’m trying to be hostile!
Wireless isn’t Wi-Fi.
Wi-fi is wireless, but it is just of many wireless standards, including FM radio and Bluetooth.
The bluetooth wireless standard uses much much less energy than the Wi-Fi wireless standard, hence it’s lower range and slower.
I would love to know Celeste which ones allow you to turn off the bluetooth. Please share. I did some research before buying mine because I wanted to be able to do turn it off. I couldn’t find one. I use a Fitbit and none of them enable you to turn them off.
Bluetooth radiation has been even less studied than cell phone radiation. Just because bluetooth wireless is a shorter distance than other wireless technologies doesn’t make it any more safe. http://emfblues.com/bluetooth-radiation/
Well I would mention that it may be a bit of a scare tactic approach to a technology that’s fairly new. As is expected with any product introduced into the market. One has to due the leg work to find what’s safe and what’s not. So far as I’m concerned, I’ve scoured the internet about the Fitbit Blaze (Which is fairly new) and have yet to find anyone that has an issue with this product. What I did find was many people seemed to attribute the prior FitBit products to possible pre-existing issues. At least that’s what I gleaned from some of the past posts. Well In reality? I don’t buy it. Pragmatist here.
I have just begun to use a FitBit this week. I have tried joining clubs, using a calendar, and DVDs for different types of exercise. My house is small, it doesn’t take many steps to complete daily tasks. I live in a climate that experiences wind and rain for about six months out of the year. I have seven children. Daily exercise has not been a relaxing, stress reducing activity. It has become virtually non-existent.I have become a slug! I need a way to have some accountability, or even to compete against myself. I can look at my fitbit and see that my daily household duties have garnered me only 3K steps for the entire day. A trip to the grocery store might get me over 5k, but barely. My house is small, we have three smart phones, a couple of 3ds handheld gaming systems, and one laptop. There is so much radiation around my house, that a FitBit isn’t going to make that much difference. I have also chosen not to sleep with it on, I don’t shower with it, either. That seems extreme in my opinion. Being able to track my movement is motivational for me, personally. I hope I don’t always need it, that I will build a lifestyle change after a period of time. For now, though, the risks of wearing a fitbit outweigh the risks of continuing to gain weight and live a sedentary life style.
Actually, the closer you are to a wireless device, the more negative the effects. Even a foot or two makes a difference. The effects of wireless radiation drop off dramatically within just a yard. Best to not wear one on your person, especially while you sleep and keep your wireless router on the opposite side of the house to the bedrooms if you don’t turn it off at night. Also keep all wireless devices out of the bedroom.
Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond has been spewing accolades about her FitBit; why, just this morning, after reading her latest post about this exercise device, I was convinced to start researching purchase options for myself. What a dramatic effect your article has had on me! I had no idea that such a little tool carries potential threats to my health. I won’t be shopping after all. Thank you for a timely post!
Thanks so much for this article Sarah. I love your blog BTW. The article confirms what I felt was the main negative to a fitbit ~ constant exposure to EMF radiation. However I do use one. And purchased it having this concern, but could find no real info about it.
I made the decision not to wear it during sleep although I have the fitbit one that will monitor sleep. I also try not to wear it in the same spot everyday…maybe not super effective for overall exposure but at least one spot isn’t getting all the juice.
I don’t intend on using it forever. Just until I get the extra 30lbs off I have gained in my 40’s since having my only child, while instilling better eating and workout habits that I had lost. We do follow the Weston A Price traditional food style of cooking in our home. But eat out too much and some bad habits have been creeping back in. Before my son I had 20 yrs of great work out habits (as well as even teaching an exercise class). But since having him and moving to a new area of town plus trying to run my own business, I just haven’t been able to get into a routine and was eating whatever I wanted whenever I wanted (still mostly raw dairy, pastured meats, good fats etc…). 8 yrs and 37lbs later the fitbit has broken the cycle. And I must say it is working. Using it and the app has made me given me the push I needed by making me more aware of food going in and staying active. (BTW I tried just using the app without the fitbit 3 yrs ago, and it didn’t work for me). I have now lost 12 lbs without really feeling any sacrifice or deprivation. I still eat lots of good fats (animal fats, coconut oil). And I am still walking mostly as I was prior to the fitbit, but have increased the frequency moderately as well as searching out more movement in general in my day. I guess what I am saying is there haven’t been any drastic changes other than minor tweaking of my food intake and amount of movement. The fitbit works to make me more aware and I am getting results. So for 9 months or so I am wearing it knowing the EMF exposure isn’t good. I do try and limit EMF in other ways in my life however. Hoping this makes a difference.
Wouldn’t it be fabulous if the fitbit device’s bluetooth signal could be turned off manually? Then we could control when it syncs with our other devices. I am hopeful the makers of the fitbit do this in a future product.
BTW ~ before I bought it I did some research. One fitness blogger compared Fitbit, Nike and a manual pedometer. She said she was skeptical that the bluetooth devices were worth it. However her conclusion was that the digital/bluetooth devices were worth the extra $50 over a good manual pedometer because they were way more accurate as well as more motivating because of the tools used with them (apps and social networking).
Some of us just need a little push (or a big one) to get there. When I was in good shape and in a great workout habit I would never have thought this device was needed for all the reasons you cite above.
Thanks for all you do!
~Holly
Good point. I’m not surprised the manual pedometers are not as accurate. Each person will have to make the judgment call whether the EMF exposure is worth pinpoint accuracy.
I have a new FitBit Blaze. Excellent device. I wear it loosely on my left wrist. No effects as to EMF or any other issues. However I remove the device before sleep. I used to work in telecom. Routers, Servers, etc. Talk about EMF? Yep. That’s dangerous. As far as I know? This particular issue has not been addressed by OSHA. On the other hand, my vascular surgeon asked me years ago if I held my cell phone to my ear while chatting. Knowing before hand the dangers of such use I responded no. I use the speaker mode. As with any electrical or wireless device such will emit radiation (Radio frequency RF) to an extent. But most people aren’t aware that the body has radiation in it already. Most people are also unaware as to what devices in the home emit RF. From your flat screen to ones computer. Microwaves…the list goes on. To be totally safe from such? One would have to travel almost 4,000 feet below the earths surface and still you’d have radiation to an extent. The human body while in the sun or not absorbs radiation all the time. We’d be dead if not for that. I have yet to meet anyone who has had troubles with the new Fitbit Blaze. However? I will be very diligent as to any information regarding this device. I like it. It’s an attractive device and it works very well if one is into exercising. I ride my composite bike 18 miles every other day. Don’t smoke nor eat garbage. At the ripe age of 65 I’m in great health (knock wood). weight a healthy 165# and still chase the ladies.