Considerations in Using Heart Rate-Based Physical Activity Estimates from Consumer Wearables in Individuals with Varying Weight Status

Although moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is a widely used construct in physical activity (PA) research, the lack of standardized assessment methods – particularly with the growing use of consumer-grade wearable activity trackers – poses challenges for comparability. Consumer-grade devices tend to rely on heart rate (HR)-based estimation methods to classify PA intensity, which contrasts with traditional research-grade accelerometers that use count- or raw-acceleration metrics. Comparability issues are particularly salient across individuals with varying weight status. In this commentary, we discuss systematic discrepancies between HR-based (relative intensity) and acceleration-based (absolute intensity) classifications of MVPA among individuals with greater adiposity. Using Fitbit data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, we illustrate how HR-based PA intensity classification may indicate higher MVPA in youth with greater adiposity despite lower step counts and light PA levels. We highlight implications for research design, public health surveillance, messaging, policy, and interventions. We also call for greater transparency, standardized methodologies, and integrative measurement approaches to ensure more accurate assessment of PA behavior.