Fitbit Lawsuit Claims Fitness Bracelets Have Faulty Heart Monitoring Tech
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Fitness bracelets are the newest craze -- but how accurate are they?
Plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against fitness company Fitbit have claimed that the hear-monitoring technology on the company's bracelets give the wrong reading -- posing potential health problems for those who may over exert themselves based on inaccurate numbers.
The company released a statement standing behind their product, claiming the suit's claim has not merit, CBS2's Christine Sloan reported.
"Fitbit trackers are designed to provide meaningful data to our users to help them reach their health and fitness goals, and are not intended to be scientific or medical devices," the company said in a statement.
Some fitness bracelet users know that the device isn't meant to be totally taken to heart.
"I take it with a grain of salt -- I've used a bunch," Kara Shovlin, a fitness instructor, said. "This one really just tracks my resting heart rate most of the time, so I don't get my heart rate when I am working out."
"You don't rely on it as if it were doctor --- it is not," Lynn Shereshewsky said.
Sports doctor Dr. Joseph Herrera, of Mount Sinai hospital, any device that encourages you to work out, is a good thing.
"Usually the fitness bracelets are great for working out," Herrera said. "They're accurate if you use it for your own benefit."
Herrera recommends checking the bracelet regularly to make sure it's working accurately and to double check your own heart rate while working out, to ensure you're on the right track.