Harness the potential power of wearables
In a world of self-optimization, people are increasingly turning to technology like sleep trackers, smartwatches, and over-the-counter continuous glucose monitors to understand their health. No matter the health measures they intend to track, these wearable technologies share information while also telling you what you can do with it. With some consumers now paying direct attention to health…
In an era focused on self-improvement, people are increasingly utilizing technology such as sleep trackers, smartwatches, and over-the-counter continuous glucose monitors to monitor their health. These wearables provide information and guidance on how to utilize it effectively. By engaging with their health data, consumers can better understand the consequences of their actions and take immediate steps towards behavior change.
A study by the wearable brand WHOOP analyzed 12,678 new users over a 72-week period, revealing that tobacco use significantly decreased among participants. Those who engaged more consistently with their own data saw greater reductions in tobacco use and improvements in resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep duration. However, it's important to note that the study does not prove that the wearable devices directly caused the reduction in tobacco use.
The data collected were self-reported, and the study included tobacco use broadly, not separating specific products. Moreover, there is no information on the cessation methods employed by those who reduced their tobacco consumption. Despite these limitations, the research suggests a potential opportunity for wearable brands to collaborate with proven behavior change programs.
For instance, continuous glucose monitors have been shown to enhance lifestyle interventions' success, ultimately helping prevent Type II diabetes at scale when paired with structured diabetes prevention and lifetime coaching. Wearables offer the missing ingredient for some people – self-monitoring and visual feedback – while others require guidance on making changes based on the feedback provided.
Rather than focusing solely on health consequences, wearables directly illustrate the patterns between action and impact. While wearables are not a substitute for evidence-based tobacco cessation support, they can serve as an additional tool in the behavior-change ecosystem. Imagine someone aiming to quit tobacco using a wearable alongside a proven cessation program.
The program would provide behavioral support, personalized strategies, and encouragement, while the wearable offers direct feedback on sleep, heart rate, stress, and other measures. This combination could transform quitting tobacco from a single, daunting decision into an ongoing process of experimentation, feedback, and adjustment.
The future of wearable technology may involve combining behavioral science with continuous, personalized feedback to help people see the connection between their everyday choices and their overall health. This approach could extend to various health outcomes, including improved sleep, reduced alcohol consumption, regular exercise, stress management, and cessation of addictive behaviors.
By providing people with a clearer view of the relationship between their choices and health, wearables have the potential to create a lasting impact on population health. Kathy Crosby, president and CEO of Truth Initiative, sees immense potential in this direction.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
