The higher your body fat percentage, the less accurate your smartwatch is at measuring calories you burn when exercising – new study

Smartwatch users should be wary of relying too heavily on these devices’ algorithmic measurements.

By: Jason Kostrna, Florida International University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 21, 2026

Words: 1,370

Last Updated: 6 days, 18 hours ago

By Jason Kostrna, Florida International University

Smartwatches have become an increasingly popular way for people to monitor their health and fitness. About 100 million – nearly 4 in 10 – U.S. adults own a smartwatch. Worldwide, market research estimates approximately 560 million smartwatch wearers.

Yet a growing body of research demonstrates that one of the most commonly used smartwatch metrics – number of calories burned – is often inaccurate.

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