By Gurumukh Uttamchandani – Executive Director, Syska
No aspect of life has been left untouched by the technological advancements of the past decade, and health & fitness is no exception to this trend. According to a report by Allied Market Research, the online fitness industry has been growing at a CAGR of over 33% and is estimated to reach $59.23 million by 2027. One technological innovation of particular interest in the wellness space in recent years is smart wearables.
When smart wearables first hit the market, they were seen as gimmicks rather than a useful tool for health monitoring, owing to the poor accuracy of data. However, with manufacturers investing more capital and R&D on the wearables, the quality and accuracy significantly improved, giving the segment greater credibility among potential users. The pandemic played a key role in driving the adoption of smart wearables – social-distancing measures and lockdowns confining many fitness activities to the home and an overall move towards better health awareness and healthier lifestyles. The trend has continued to hold strong post-pandemic as well, with shipments of wearables expected to reach 117 million units in 2023, up from 100 million last year.
So how do smart wearables help consumers boost their fitness and wellness quotient?
Tracking fitness and health parameters in real-time
Wearable devices (including smartwatches and fitness bands) constantly monitor a range of parameters. They help track the progress of fitness activities, such as steps taken/distance covered during a walk or run, repetitions during a workout, time spent on physical activities, and calories burnt. They also provide real-time data concerned with the wearer’s health, including heart rate, sleep monitoring, blood oxygen levels, water intake, stress etc.
The data provided by smart wearables offers consumers valuable insights on their fitness levels and overall health. This motivates them to further invest in a healthier lifestyle and informs them of any potential health concerns (such as poor sleep quality, high-stress levels, irregular heart rate) so that they can take corrective measures.
Helping diagnose health issues
The real-time monitoring that smart wearables offer is invaluable for patients suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders. These devices serve as a simple and reliable solution for them to keep track of their vitals. Further advancements in the technology are expected to help anticipate major health events in the body.
Wearables have already demonstrated the potential to help with the early detection of heart conditions. Currently, most people only visit a cardiologist when they start exhibiting symptoms. But someone using a smart wearable would be able to screen their heart health early on. This early detection allows for a better opportunity to treat any cardiac condition with medication, instead of invasive procedures. The artificial intelligence (AI) that powers the device could also share vital information on the patient’s health with their doctor, which further aids in successful treatment.
In addition to enabling consumers to seek medical attention in time, another aspect which highlights the value of smart wearables as diagnostic tools is that they give medical practitioners data on the functioning of the patient’s body before they came in.
Of course, the benefits of this monitoring are not restricted to the medical sphere alone. AI-driven tracking of workouts in real-time, as well as insights on the wearer’s overall health, can also help fitness trainers/coaches make more informed decisions while designing fitness and wellness regimens for their clients.
Looking ahead
The Indian wearables market is predicted to grow exponentially over the next few years, touching $80.43 billion by 2025. Wearable devices have always had a strong style quotient, enabling their users to come across as sophisticated and technologically savvy. But on a deeper level, wearables offer a vast range of benefits to users – motivating them to lead fitter lives, proactively monitoring their health and lifestyles, and even helping them identify and treat serious health conditions and diseases.
