ArticleJMIR mHealth and uHealth2020
Behavior Change Techniques in Wrist-Worn Wearables to Promote Physical Activity: Content Analysis.
Article in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Digital Health Interventions to Promote Physical Activity Among Adolescents: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Pooled it
- It is Feasible for 3 to 5-Year-Old Children to Use Smartwatch Activity Trackers: A Systematic Review.Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) · 2025Pooled it
- Effectiveness of wearable activity trackers on physical activity among adolescents in school-based settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Exploring the Use of Smartwatches and Activity Trackers for Health-Related Purposes for Children Aged 5 to 11 years: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- The Effectiveness of Wearable Devices as Physical Activity Interventions for Preventing and Treating Obesity in Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2022Pooled it
- The Acceptability, Feasibility, and Effectiveness of Wearable Activity Trackers for Increasing Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- Effects of Wearable Fitness Trackers and Activity Adequacy Mindsets on Affect, Behavior, and Health: Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Trial
- Experiences of activity monitoring and perceptions of digital support among working individuals with hip and knee osteoarthritis - a focus group study.BMC public health · 2022Trial
- The effectiveness of the Structured Health Intervention For Truckers (SHIFT): a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT).BMC medicine · 2022Trial
- Human bioimpedance-based state detection technologies for sports health monitoring: a review.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Review
- From data to action: the FRAME conceptual framework for translating consumer wearable feedback into behavior change support.Frontiers in digital health · 2026Article
- Effectiveness and feasibility of family and peer challenge intervention with wearable technology on physical activity among middle schoolers in Utah: A pilot trial.Preventive medicine reports · 2025Article
- Changing User Experience of Wearable Activity Monitors Over 7 Years: Repeat Cross-Sectional Survey Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- How Social Influence Promotes the Adoption of Mobile Health among Young Adults in China: A Systematic Analysis of Trust, Health Consciousness, and User Experience.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Unveiling wearables: exploring the global landscape of biometric applications and vital signs and behavioral impact.BioData mining · 2024Article
- A Comprehensive Review of Behavior Change Techniques in Wearables and IoT: Implications for Health and Well-Being.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Evaluation of Wrist-Worn Photoplethysmography Trackers with an Electrocardiogram in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease: A Validation Study.Cardiovascular engineering and technology · 2024Article
- Measuring Heart Rate Accurately in Patients With Parkinson Disease During Intense Exercise: Usability Study of Fitbit Charge 4.JMIR biomedical engineering · 2023Article
- Improving Predictability and Effectiveness in Preventive Digital Health Interventions: Scoping Review.Interactive journal of medical research · 2023Article
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDecreasing levels of physical activity (PA) increase the incidences of noncommunicable diseases, obesity, and mortality. To counteract these developments, interventions aiming to increase PA are urgently needed. Mobile health (mHealth) solutions such as wearable sensors (wearables) may assist with an improvement in PA.
objectiveThe aim of this study is to examine which behavior change techniques (BCTs) are incorporated in currently available commercial high-end wearables that target users' PA behavior.
methodsThe BCTs incorporated in 5 different high-end wearables (Apple Watch Series 3, Garmin Vívoactive 3, Fitbit Versa, Xiaomi Amazfit Stratos 2, and Polar M600) were assessed by 2 researchers using the BCT Taxonomy version 1 (BCTTv1). Effectiveness of the incorporated BCTs in promoting PA behavior was assessed by a content analysis of the existing literature.
resultsThe most common BCTs were goal setting (behavior), action planning, review behavior goal(s), discrepancy between current behavior and goal, feedback on behavior, self-monitoring of behavior, and biofeedback. Fitbit Versa, Garmin Vívoactive 3, Apple Watch Series 3, Polar M600, and Xiaomi Amazfit Stratos 2 incorporated 17, 16, 12, 11, and 11 BCTs, respectively, which are proven to effectively promote PA.
conclusionsWearables employ different numbers and combinations of BCTs, which might impact their effectiveness in improving PA. To promote PA by employing wearables, we encourage researchers to develop a taxonomy specifically designed to assess BCTs incorporated in wearables. We also encourage manufacturers to customize BCTs based on the targeted populations.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.