Are wearables legit? We stress-tested the best fitness trackers and had an expert weigh in

As fitness trackers become mainstream accessories—now worn by an estimated third of Americans—health-conscious parents and homebuyers face a new question: are these constant wearables adding to your family's EMF exposure?

The New York Post recently tested top fitness trackers from brands like Oura, Garmin, Apple, Samsung, and WHOOP, consulting human biologist Gary Brecka for insights. While these devices offer impressive health monitoring capabilities—tracking everything from sleep cycles to stress levels and heart rate variability—they work by constantly emitting wireless signals to communicate with your smartphone.

What Wearables Actually Do

According to Brecka, "Wearables have become popular because people are finally realising that health is not just about how many steps you took or how many calories you burned. The real value is in understanding how your body is responding to sleep, stress, training, recovery, travel, alcohol, food and daily habits." He emphasizes that the benefit comes when the data changes behavior and helps users "see patterns in your physiology."

The trend has even reached government officials, with Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggesting that "every American should wear one" within four years, calling them "a way of people taking control over their own health."

The EMF Consideration for Families

For parents concerned about electromagnetic field exposure, wearables present a unique challenge: they're worn directly on the body, often 24/7. Unlike cell towers that you can distance yourself from when choosing a home, or Wi-Fi routers that can be turned off at night, fitness trackers stay in constant contact with your skin.

If you're already taking steps like researching EMF shielding paint for your home, it's worth considering whether the health insights from wearables outweigh the trade-off of continuous low-level EMF exposure. Some users choose to wear devices only during specific activities rather than around the clock, or opt for airplane mode when connectivity isn't needed. Before dismissing concerns, it helps to separate fact from fiction—our guide on common EMF myths debunked by science can provide clarity on what risks are real versus exaggerated.

The key is making an informed choice that aligns with your family's health priorities and risk tolerance.

Originally reported by New York Post