Mistreated: Why We Think We're Getting Good Health Care and Why We're Usually Wrong by Robert Pearl

Author:Robert Pearl
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medical, Health Policy, Public Health
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Published: 2017-05-02T02:07:53.485000+00:00

The Wrist of the Story

Every year, scores of Americans make resolutions to lose weight and get fit. And to ensure this year is really the year, many rely on technology for a boost.

They purchase and proudly display the hottest health wearables, for instance, the FitBit, the Misfit, and the Apple Watch. They sign onto their social channels and #humblebrag about their workouts. This health-tech frenzy has made the wearable device industry a Wall Street favorite. And so far, these investments have proven financially remunerative. But if we’re looking to these wearables to significantly improve American health, we’re better off looking elsewhere.

For all of the enthusiasm and hype these devices drum up, they essentially provide us with data on only two basic functions: sleep and exercise. Most of us already know whether we slept well. And even if the wearable informs us that we tossed and turned last night, what can we do about it? The wrist monitor quantifies our steps, calculates the distance we covered, and even estimates the calories we burned. But most of that information can be obtained through the smartphone we already own (and carry with us everywhere) or by clipping a $5 pedometer to our shorts.

Wearable devices do motivate some people to begin an exercise program or increase weekly mileage. But their impact on American health has been limited. For most people, the hope for greater health doesn’t align with the results, because, in reality, attractive wristbands can’t roll you out of bed or put your walking shoes on for you.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people who wore fitness trackers actually had a tougher time losing weight than people who logged their activity on a website.

Not surprisingly then, one-third of all consumers abandon their smart wearables within six months. And so, if they don’t increase exercise for most individuals, and if most people can acquire the same information at minimal or no added cost, how are so many getting sold in the first place?

In short, fitness wearables solve the “December Dilemma.” The holidays are coming and you’re looking to buy a cool present for someone you love. Your budget is around $200 and you want the present to communicate how much you care. Voilà! The FitBit/Misfit/Apple Watch fits the bill.

The December Dilemma has been around for quite some time. In the 1990s, Americans solved it with inline skates. These shiny plastic boots with their wheels all in a row were beautiful to look at and trendy to own. But for one-third of all recipients, that morning in late December was the last time they put them on.

In health care, “home monitoring devices” have become the hot new thing. These wearables can measure core vital functions and would seem helpful for patients with chronic conditions. These wireless trackers range from blood-pressure monitors and pulse counters to blood-oxygen calculators and blood-sugar evaluators. They can capture and send thousands of electrocardiogram (EKG) tracings, blood-sugar levels, or other bodily statistics directly to the computers of health care professionals.

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