Is there any way to update fitbit's stored nutritional information?

[Randy-S]

I never intended to log my food, but here I am... 😏

The challenge is that much of the nutritional information that is associated with many food items is wrong. I just started logging yesterday and have already noticed multiple, significant discrepancies. I "corrected" for the calorie-based errors by manually adjusting the intake quantity to match the actual calories that were consumed, but this throws off all of the other variables (e.g. carbs, proteins, etc) and leads to numerous other incorrect data points when you look at your nutrients for the day ("Nutrients" line on Food tab). [When correcting calories I also noticed that other nutritional information components are either inaccurate or missing on many products]

I've also noticed that even before I corrected the calorie counts, that other nutrient information is just blatantly wrong. I eat primarily whole, unprocessed foods that are generally low iron and either low sodium or sodium free, and the app shows my iron intake at 469% and sodium intake at ~1/16th of a teaspoon (139mg)--both of which are wildly inaccurate based on my consumption yesterday. (My iron intake is generally less than 100% RDA [8mg] and my sodium is usually between 1/2 to 3/4 RDA [1150-1533mg])

Are these myriad inaccuracies commonly understood and accepted, or is there some way to correct and/or report them? Thanks!

[Rich_Laue]

Hi @Randy-S since your not asking for help with the hardware, or app, I've moved your post to the discussion forum. 

[Randy-S]

Given that my question has nothing to do with "managing weight," I'd appreciate if you could delete it. 

That aside, even though I get the idea of "crowd-sourcing" certain tasks, it seems like a huge gap for no noticeable customer service function to exist for questions like this (which aim at correcting myriad components of misinformation that are available within the app).

No need for response, unless I should direct my "delete this post" elsewhere?

[Randy-S]

How is it that you have the time to miscategorize my post, but have no interest in addressing or correcting your mistake (when I pointed it out almost immediately)? (community legend indeed)

[Rich_Laue]

It is simple, I, as a volanteer, have a life outside of this board, and don't spend my life here. 

Your question was in the hardware support board, and not asking for hardware support. 

I could move your post to, say Healthy Eating if you would like, but have no power to delete or remove any posts. You however are able to edit. 

[Randy-S · Accepted solution]

Well, since helpful "volanteers" seemingly don't answer questions, I'll answer my own based on what I've learned thus far:

If you want accurate nutritional information, you'll most likely have to create custom food items. Even when you do this, there will be inaccurate data point totals displayed in the "nutrients" and "macronutrients" sections because the app includes basic tabulation errors that have been overlooked for years. (a search of these boards and fitbit reviews will quickly confirm this point) This ongoing oversight is likely occurring because fitbit doesn't have cohesive--or meaningfully helpful--customer or technical service departments (via "Get Support" live chat, calls, etc), and the relatively generic instructional and/or troubleshooting information on the website (via the help forums among other sources) is fragmented and incomplete.

[Rich_Laue]

Link to the online help docs will be found at the bottom of any page, or through the help found in the app. Info to contact support will be found in the top right, through the below link to help, and also through the fitbit app. 

You stated no need to respond, yet got upset with no response. 

[Randy-S]

How laughable that you edited to add, "You stated no need to respond, yet got upset with no response." 

The only thing that was upsetting is that a representative of Fitbit miscategorized my post under "weight management" without attempting to contact me to confirm the correctness of that action. Had my post been deleted as I requested, then of course no response would have been expected or desired. Since you were unable to delete the post--and I explicitly requested response if I needed to direct my deletion request elsewhere, you could have at very least had the common courtesy to share that deletion was not possible. 

The fact that you're displaying a childlike comprehension is telling, even if I'm sure you readily comprehend your oversights and are simply being snide. As a representative of Fitbit in this forum if nowhere else, I suppose I'm really not surprised based on the general lack of acumen and professionalism across every customer service contact point. Whatever the case, I will not be wasting any further time or energy addressing you, even if I'm guessing you'll have more to add to maintain that "community legend" status.

[LeeD]

I have to enter my own information under custom foods if I want accurate nutrition information. My husband and I both have to watch our potassium intake which is lacking from 99% of the foods in the database. Unfortunately, I have not found a way to edit even my own custom entries. Another item I wish Fitbit would add is Net Carbs and Sugar Alcohols, for those of us on a Keto diet. I share your frustration.

[Randy-S]

I don't even search the database anymore--I just create custom items/entries/meals so that I know the information is accurate (unless I make a mistake, of course!). And wow, limiting potassium must be pretty challenging given how many things contain it. I didn't even realize how many until I started custom-logging my intake.

I hadn't previously tried to edit one of my custom entries, so I didn't realize that they couldn't be edited. (sigh)