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Fitbit’s Heart Rate Monitor Gives ‘Highly Inaccurate’ Results: Study

By Megha Kedia | Update Date: May 24, 2016 06:00 AM EDT

Fitbit's fitness trackers fail in accurately measuring user's heart rate, a new study claims. In a recent study, researchers at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona have found that Fitbit's PurePulse heart rate monitors miscalculated users' heart rates. The average difference between Fitbit devices and an electrocardiogram (ECG) was 20 beats per minute.

The study was conducted on behalf of Lieff Cabraser, the law firm leading the class action lawsuit that questions accuracy of Fitbit products. The class action suit is aimed at three Fitbit models that use the PurePulse heart monitor, including the Fitbit Blaze, Fitbit Charge HR and Fitbit Surge, according to CNBC.

For the purpose of the study, the research team examined 43 healthy adult participants- 22 men and 21 women- doing various exercises such as jogging, stair climbing, and jumping rope during a 65-minute session while wearing Fitbit's Surge watches and Charge HR bands. The participants were also connected to a BioHarness that produced an electrocardiogram.

The study found that the PurePulse trackers recorded a heart rate that differed from the ECG by an average of 19.2 beats per minute during moderate to high-intensity exercise. Additionally, it was found that there were inconsistencies between results of the two devices and at times, the device didn't record a heartbeat at all.

"The PurePulse Trackers do not accurately measure a user's heart rate, particularly during moderate to high intensity exercise, and cannot be used to provide a meaningful estimate of a user's heart rate," the researchers concluded, according to Gizmodo.

Responding to the allegations, a Fitbit spokesperson said that the study was biased and baseless as the same was paid for by plaintiffs' lawyers who are suing Fitbit.

"It was paid for by plaintiffs' lawyers who are suing Fitbit, and was conducted with a consumer-grade electrocardiogram - not a true clinical device, as implied by the plaintiffs' lawyers," the spokesperson said, reported CNET.

"Furthermore, there is no evidence the device used in the purported 'study' was tested for accuracy."

Do you agree with the Fitbit study results? Let us know in comments below.

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