Abandonment rate of fitness trackers

[Dominique]

I recently came across this article, which quotes Dan Kinsbourne of YOO Fitness (creator of the YOO Fitness Mini Wireless Activity Tracker) saying that "no matter how much it cost, the abandonment rate for wearable fitness trackers is 75% in the first three months".

Never heard of YOO before, but it's not what attracted my attention. It's rather the claim about the 75% abandonment rate. I do have a couple of acquaintances who bought a Fitbit after I raved about it and who seem to have mostly ceased to use it, but the figure sounds quite high to me. Do you really think it's that high?

Fitbit probably has a very good idea, since they can see those accounts that have stopped syncing on a regular basis.

[wtksk8r]

From personal experience it might not be too far off.  Just in my immediate circle of relatives and acquaintances - me, my wife, my lab manager, my sister and a close friend - only my wife and I still use the trackers daily.  The lab manager has a fitness challenge from his manager and he still does not wear it.  3 out of 5 or a 60% fallout rate.

[Odyssey13]

I did a quick search and scanned seven articles. From Fortune.com, Huffington and a few other places, based on two different surveys, it seems 34% or a third is what is being determined as giving up on their devices.

YOO guy must be coming up with his own report or something. It seems high to me, but is he including devices such as treadmills and such equipment?

[lonerchick]

I used my fitbit on a regular basis for about 6 months before I started to forget. Life got crazy and I forgot the little guy.

[Heybales]

I think it sounds high.

Probably depends on when you do the survey too.

3 months after the start of the new year, when all the New Year Resoluters that always attempt to do something and give up by that time.

Gyms slow back down to normal, less people out walking and jogging, despite weather getting nicer, ect.

During that time frame, especially with gifted devices included, I can see it.

Pick another time period where it was bought by those really wanting it, and motivation and resolution to get this done now, I wouldn't believe it.

[josephz2va]

That might be true if the battery life is terrible. I gave up using my Surge when the active display, HR tracking, and GPS drains it every 4 hours and you have to recharge it for the next 1-2 hours for another 4 hours usage. That got boring for me and I switched to Charge HR for longer times between charges.

My sister got bored with her Samsung smartwatch when it comes to recharging it every night due to the same features. Active display, GPS, and HR Tracking that burns through the battery.

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You also get bored if no results are happening or you start slipping back into a hole. From running to couch again playing online role playing games. I know I did a while back before giving up using a computer.

[Deafworm]

This is interesting, I know I thought long and hard before forking out on a fitbit so if i had got it as a gift unasked for i might have used it for novelty and given up. Or if i had to remember to put it on in the mornings (I have a charge) I know i would forget but Im hoping the incentive it offers to up my activity (which i love) and the cost of it will keep me using it.

[Dominique]

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@Deafworm wrote:
I know I thought long and hard before forking out on a fitbit so if i had got it as a gift unasked for i might have used it for novelty and given up.

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That's a good point! Yes, you're likely to be more motivated if you purchased it for yourself after careful consideration than if you got it as an unasked gift.

[betpchem]

I wonder if there should be a stamp or two for duration? I've had my fitbit a year with nary a missed day. It would be cool to have a stamp for that accomplishment.

BTW, I did get an email today saying, "here's your year" and telling me my total steps for the year and so forth. That was cool. 

[gibberish]

I enjoy wearing my fitbit as I get to keep track.. i haven't had it for long but where I use it as a watch too I don't think i'll stop using it! 

[acerda]

I wonder how many people abandon their FB after, having used it long enough to develop good daily exercise habits (goal achieved) lose interest in keeping track of the daily details. Not everyone is data driven. Some may use it simply to achieve a pattern of daily exercise and then no longer feel a need for it once healthy.

[HelenaFitbit]

I think it depends of the user's context. I gave my mum and partner a Zip and my dad bought his Flex; they may not be as interested on their step counts and calories if I weren't nagging them to walk instead of drive to a particular place. Also, healthy eating at home got much easier when we started buying fruits and veggies for the whole family.

If a person alone were to get one tracker and start a diet at the same time, they may follow along the first days or even weeks, but they are usually discouraged when they slip or don't see results. But if the same person has a partner/friends/family who are on a healthy path, the road gets easier. 

[GarudaGirl]

I have had quite a number of fitness trackers. Let's see...Ultra, Flex (2), Charge, Jawbone Up, Jawbone Up24. Seems like a lot, anyway. With the Fitbits, I have traded up. Or, in the case of the two Flex bands, I wanted pink and there was only one way to get it. I wonder if trading up constitutes abandoning the first one?

I did have a hiaitus, as you can see above, from Fitbit. I went over the Jawbone for a little while. My reasoning was that I wanted better data. Obviously I'm back, so the data, while great, wasn't the whole story. Durability really makes a difference to me, and Fitbit is superior in that category for sure. Besides, the Fitbit crowd is a lot more fun, and the forums and challenges, as well as the new Dashboard, have really improved things.

Maybe if you're a tracker person, you're a tracker person in the long term. I have a ton of friends that have dropped their use of their Fitbit, not because they dislike it but because they just got bored with it. It was a novelty, I think, rather than a tool.

[Dominique]

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@GarudaGirl wrote:

I did have a hiaitus, as you can see above, from Fitbit. I went over the Jawbone for a little while. My reasoning was that I wanted better data. Obviously I'm back, so the data, while great, wasn't the whole story. Durability really makes a difference to me, and Fitbit is superior in that category for sure. Besides, the Fitbit crowd is a lot more fun, and the forums and challenges, as well as the new Dashboard, have really improved things.

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@GarudaGirl: Just curious: in what way the Jawbone data was (allegedly) better / the Fitbit data lacking? I've heard Jawbone is better than Fitbit at tracking sleep.

Although I can't compare it with other brands since I've only been "married to" Fitbit so far, I agree with you the community aspect (friends, forums, challenges) of Fitbit is very good and a strong reason for sticking with the "ecosystem".

[larrypo09]

I wouldn't be surprised at the abondonment rate. Look at the number of gym memberships that go unused, or just read the Discussion board and you see the number dissatisfied users that will/have given up on using the device. 

For me, Fitbit is to help me get back on track after an 18 month layoff. When (or if) I get back into reasonable shape, I doubt I will rely on Fitbit tracking device. I've only been working at getting back into shape for 3, 4 weeks and just bought into Fitbit...but, so far, I can easily see how it provides me with positive re-enforcement to eat properly and work out regularly.

[Odyssey13]

@larrypo09By the time you're back to the shape you want, your Fitbit will be as much a habit as brushing your teeth or putting on your shoes!

People do stop programs and I'm one of them. I've worn my Flex every day since I bought it in September 2013. In the past, I never stuck to any program as long as I have the Fitbit.

It's a true motivator. I'm glad you joined with us and are making positive goals in your life.

Welcome to the forums.

[larrypo09]

Thank you, and I am glad to be here!

[WendyB]

I had a Polar Loop that is now sitting in a drawer. The thing I didnt like about it was the website. Polar is very popular. But their web site is not motivating at all to me. The gadget it self is very well made and I did like it when I used it. Just dont like thier website.

But I like Fitbit better. Its more motivating to me. The website with the leaderboard and everything else motivates me

[gebobs]

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BTW, I did get an email today saying, "here's your year" and telling me my total steps for the year and so forth. That was cool. 

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Deets!

[lonerchick]

I think some people get discouraged easily. If you are coming off the couch, 10k a day is hard to reach. Yet it is the default goal. The daily goal can be changed but the weekly goal is 70,000. My daily goal is 7,000, it's an attainable goal that I still have to work hard for. No more killing myself to reach 10,000. Especially in the winter.

And the 35K plus people are more discouraging than helpful.