80% of Apple Watch users who step up exercise now push past Quitters Day, study shows
New research suggests some people manage to push through January and keep their workout momentum going.
Nina Raemont/ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Apple Watch users keep their activity level up through January.
- Most of these users maintained that level through spring.
- The watch could be a helpful activity motivator.
The first week of January is usually the time when people go all in on self-development. Whether they're committing to eating cleaner or getting more active, resolutions for diet and exercise abound.
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Could a smartwatch keep people faithful to their New Year's resolutions? A recent data analysis says yes.
Quitters Day
The analysis of approximately 100,000 participants in the Apple Heart and Movement Study shows that Apple Watch users were able to maintain exercise momentum through "Quitters Day," also known as the second Friday of January, when people begin to give up on their resolutions.
"Each year, following a decrease in average exercise minutes during the November and December holiday period, the average daily exercise minutes of Apple Watch users in the study not only rapidly increased in January, but also continued to progress into the spring," Apple says in a press release.
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Almost 80% of Apple Watch users who increased their exercise minutes kept that same level of exercise up during the last half of January. Ninety percent of this group maintained these levels through February and March, according to Apple.
Special Ring
To keep the momentum going, Apple Watch users can get a special Ring in the New Year limited-edition award when they close all three Activity rings for seven days in a row.
Apple's Heart and Movement Study is one of many studies Apple has carried out with its smartwatch users. By collecting Apple Watch data from its thousands of participants, it is able to uncover trends and explore the connection between activity and heart health.
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Fitness trackers are a useful tool for tracking and rewarding movement and activity. Devices like Apple Watches, fitness bands, and smart rings are built with tools like an accelerometer, gyroscope, GPS, and heart rate monitor to track movement accurately and calculate total calories burned and steps taken throughout the day.