Wearing a smart watch can add TWO years to your life, research claims
SMART watches can help add two years to your life, a major study claims.
Research carried out on 420,000 adults reveals those using the device’s fitness tracker did nearly five days extra activity each month.
Around one in four were given an Apple Watch and offered discounts by insurance firm Vitality if they hit certain targets.
Participants were active for around a fortnight a month before the intervention.
Researchers found those with the wrist-worn devices upped their exercise levels by a third over the two-year study, the largest ever of smart health tech.
They estimate the extra activity boosted users’ life expectancy by an additional two years.
Matt Hancock welcomed the findings, saying smart tech can play a major role in preventing ill health.
The Health Secretary said: ““We must stay at the forefront of emerging technologies like digital medicines because their potential is so huge.
“We’re better off and healthier because of technological progress. Because someone had faith and a vision.
“That’s why I believe in tech, because I believe in people. And I’m optimistic that with the right tools in the NHS we can improve people’s lives by improving people’s health.
“Now if there is any one overriding theme of the digital revolution it’s increased choice. And if you look at people’s everyday behaviour they like personalisation and they use personalised services.”
Plans to bolster tech use come after Mr Hancock set out radical plans to shift the NHS’ focus towards disease prevention rather than treatment.
Vitality boss Adrian Gore said his firm is committed to making 100 million people a fifth more active by 2025.
Commenting on the Apple Watch research, he said: “This landmark study contributes to a deeper understanding of how people can be incentivised to live fitter and healthier lives.”
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Around two in three adults are too fat in the UK.
Steven Ward, head of ukactive, said: “This unparalleled research proves that inspiring physical activity on a global scale is not only possible, but deliverable.”
But the nation’s top GP was more cautious.
Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “New technology and gadgets can be expensive, and we must be sure that if we are recommending certain devices to patients that we are sure of the reliability and evidence behind them, and that we are not leaving poorer patients, or even just our less tech-savvy patients behind.”
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