New Algorithm Accurately Measures Calorie Burn in People with Obesity
Fitness trackers often misrepresent the activity levels of individuals with obesity. Now, a new algorithm offers a more precise method for monitoring energy expenditure during exercise, potentially improving tailored health interventions. This technology focuses specifically on improving accuracy for those who need it most.
A Breakthrough in Fitness Technology
Researchers at Northwestern University have crafted a new algorithm. It enables smartwatches to accurately measure how many calories people with obesity burn during various activities. This innovation was developed by the HABits Lab, led by Nabil Alshurafa. It is open-source, designed for dominant-wrist use, and ready for other scientists to build upon.
“People with obesity could gain major health insights from activity trackers, but most current devices miss the mark.”
—Nabil Alshurafa, Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Traditional activity trackers often miscalculate energy expenditure in individuals with higher body weights. The researchers’ next move is to launch an activity-monitoring app later in the year. It will be accessible for both iOS and Android users.
Motivation Behind the Research
The impetus for this algorithm came from a personal experience. Alshurafa witnessed his mother-in-law working exceptionally hard in an exercise class, yet her tracker’s numbers barely reflected it. He realized the need for tools that accurately represent the efforts of people with obesity.
The innovative model is designed to compete with gold-standard methods of measuring energy expenditure. It can estimate how much energy someone with obesity uses every minute, achieving over 95% accuracy in practical scenarios. This advancement will make it easier for those with obesity to monitor their daily activities and caloric usage.
How the Study Measured Energy Burn
The study included two groups of participants. One group wore a fitness tracker and a metabolic cart, using a mask to gauge oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. This process allowed scientists to accurately determine calorie burn. The second group used a fitness tracker and body camera. This helped researchers visually verify the algorithm’s calorie calculations during real-world activities. The algorithm was tested against eleven other algorithms designed by researchers using high-end devices.
Sometimes, Alshurafa would have study participants engage in exercises, such as wall-pushups, to observe their exertion. This highlighted the need to consider exercise standards that include more people. The study is titled, “Developing and comparing a new BMI inclusive energy burn algorithm on wrist-worn wearables.”
According to the CDC, the obesity rate in the United States was nearly 42% between 2017 and 2020 (CDC Data Brief).
The Team Behind the Study
Other Northwestern contributors to this research include lead author Boyang Wei, Christopher Romano, and Bonnie Nolan. The research also involved collaboration with Mahdi Pedram and Whitney A. Morelli, who were previously with Northwestern.
This breakthrough could lead to more tailored fitness plans. They will reflect the actual effort exerted by people with obesity.
