In recent years, wearable health technology, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart rings, and continuous glucose monitors, has seen explosive growth. Marketed as tools to empower individuals to take control of their health, these devices now monitor everything from heart rate and sleep cycles to blood oxygen levels and stress. Prominent public figures, including U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have endorsed them as essential to improving national health. But while the promise is compelling, the reality is more complicated.
Smartwatches like the Apple Watch and rings such as the Oura are popular for their sleek design and easy-to-use apps. These devices track movement, detect heart rhythm irregularities, monitor sleep quality, and even prompt users to breathe or hydrate. Continuous glucose monitors, traditionally used by diabetics, are now being marketed to non-diabetics interested in "bio-optimization."
Kennedy has proposed a sweeping national initiative to get more Americans wearing health trackers, framing it as a way to reduce dependence on expensive prescription drugs and move toward preventive care. He argues that wearable data can give individuals daily insight into behaviors that impact their long-term health, allowing them to make better healthy lifestyle choices.
However, the effectiveness of wearables remains under scrutiny. While some features like step counters and basic heart rate tracking are generally accurate, other metrics can vary significantly. Sleep data, calorie counts, and stress measurements often rely on algorithms that are not standardized or medically validated. In some cases, users report increased anxiety from constantly monitoring their bodies without fully understanding the data.
There is also the issue of data privacy. These devices collect vast amounts of sensitive biometric information, yet users often have little control over how that data is stored, shared, or sold. Critics warn that wearables could eventually become surveillance tools used not only by tech companies, but potentially by insurers, employers, or governments.
Ultimately, while wearable technology may become an important part of future healthcare systems, it is not a panacea. Devices alone cannot replace the nuanced judgment of a medical professional or address the root causes of chronic illness such as socioeconomic inequality, poor diet, or limited access to care. Without stronger evidence of long-term benefits, better privacy protections, and clear ethical guidelines, the rush to put a tracker on every wrist or finger may be more trend than transformation.
Guest:
Emerson Perin, MD is an Interventional Cardiologist and Medical Director at The Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine and Director, Center for Clinical Research.
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This episode will be recorded on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
