Health Farm

Our fascination with instant feedback has fuelled the multi-billion dollar market for wearable fitness devices. Most of us figure that keeping tabs on vitals, such as activity, sleep, heartrate and the like, are the first steps to better health.

And, yet, early research suggests fitness trackers don’t make a jot of difference to overall health.

Gold in data

When it comes to wearables we should be more concerned with dollar signs in the eyes of big corporates queuing up to get their hands on your personal fitness data. Where there’s data, there’s gold, right?

Health insurers are clapping their clammy hands at the prospect of monetising your personal data. In fact, they’re so excited by the opportunity that some, like UnitedHealthcare, are promoting employer-sponsored plans offering discounted wearable trackers to help employees meet fitness goals.

Sounds honourable – until the insurer uses the fitness data they’re collecting to deny you coverage based on a medical condition picked up by your tracker. Think of the money insurers will save!

Wonky data and leaky apps are bad for your health

If having your health cover declined quickens the pulse, knowing that your insurer used wonky data to arrive at their decision will send your blood pressure through the roof. And that’s the problem with fitness trackers – the information isn’t always correct. Fitbit itself acknowledges this possibility.

And what happens when you lose interest in tracking your fitness data, or stop engaging in those activities? Do premiums go up? Are you still covered? Oh, and something else to think about – data collected by these devices often leaks out. Researchers have discovered that 70 per cent of third-party apps collect data that can then be used to create a profile of buying and spending habits.

Play ball or miss out

So it’s come to this. John Hancock, one of the oldest and largest North American life insurers, requires customers to use activity trackers for life insurance policies to get discounted premiums and other perks. Not for you? Then stump up for higher premiums.

Some data just ain’t worth sharing.