Study Finds Smartwatch Calorie Tracking Accuracy Drops Significantly as Body Fat Increases
A new study from Florida International University reveals that smartwatch calorie estimates become increasingly inaccurate as the wearer's body fat percentage rises. Testing four major devices on 58 participants, researchers found median errors of 15-25%, with errors reaching 50-100% for those with higher body fat. While heart rate tracking remained reliable, the study suggests users should treat calorie counts as rough estimates rather than precise metrics for weight management.