It's time for Fitbit and its fitness tracker friends to be held accountable for everyone's mood swings. Sure, people who live #ThatStepLife get more exercise than most, but a new study from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business shows that step-counters make people unhappier. Ummm, what now?
Turns out tracking devices make users enjoy the activities they're tracking less, which anyone who's walked to work in sub-zero temperatures just to beat their coworker's step count surely understands. In one test, two groups of students recorded their thoughts for a day while walking—one with trackers, one without. Surprise, surprise—the step-obsessed group walked farther and totally hated it.
"We're curious creatures and tracking information is very seductive, even for enjoyable activities," Professor Jordan Etkin said. "Simply making it available made them want to look at it, but the very people who self-select into measurement are the ones who are hurt by it."
This doesn't mean you should cast your trusty Fitbit aside like an old slice of pizza (kidding, you should never throw out pizza), but as Etkin points out, "for activities people do for fun, it may be better not to know."
Ugh, Fitbit, quit playing games with our heart.
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
-
The Perfumer Behind Last Year's Most Talked-About Fragrance Just Released Another Perfect Scent
Aqua Media Cologne forte embodies a feeling of balance and harmony.
-
'Yellowface' Is Our June Book Club Pick
Read an excerpt from R.F. Kuang's latest novel, here, then dive in with us throughout the month.
-
I Scoured the Summer Runways—Here Are the Six Shoe Trends Actually Worth Buying
Hit the ground running this season.
-
Senator Klobuchar: "Early Detection Saves Lives. It Saved Mine"
Senator and breast cancer survivor Amy Klobuchar is encouraging women not to put off preventative care any longer.
-
How Being a Plus-Size Nude Model Made Me Finally Love My Body
I'm plus size, but after I decided to pose nude for photos, I suddenly felt more body positive.
-
I'm an Egg Donor. Why Was It So Difficult for Me to Tell People That?
Much like abortion, surrogacy, and IVF, becoming an egg donor was a reproductive choice that felt unfit for society’s standards of womanhood.
-
The 20 Best Probiotics to Keep Your Gut in Check
Gut health = wealth.
-
Simone Biles Is Out of the Team Final at the Tokyo Olympics
She withdrew from the event due to a medical issue, according to USA Gymnastics.
-
The Truth About Thigh Gaps
We're going to need you to stop right there.
-
3 Women On What It’s Like Living With An “Invisible” Condition
Despite having no outward signs, they can be brutal on the body and the mind. Here’s how each woman deals with having illnesses others often don’t understand.
-
The High Price of Living With Chronic Pain
Three women open up about how their conditions impact their bodies—and their wallets.
