In the past decade fitness trackers have made a monumental impact in the world of health and fitness. In fact, they have been so impactful that fitness trackers and apps — whether they are strapped to your chest, worn as a watch or placed inside your shoe — have now surpassed diet and nutrition companies like Weight Watchers in number of customers and popularity.
Revenue for Weight Watchers fell 10 percent to $327.8 million in the December quarter, declining for the eighth straight period as FitBit, Jawbone and other activity trackers lure dieters away.
Shares in the company, a pioneer in the weight-loss industry, slumped as much as 16 percent in extended trading after the results, on top of a 78 percent decline in the past three years.
This goes to show that Americans are paying more attention to how many calories they’re burning from exercise or everyday activities, causing a significant spike in fitness gadget popularity, with 51.2 million adults in America alone adults using applications to track their health, according to Nielsen.
With the population more digital than ever, free apps are now the go-to source for getting fit and losing weight rather than diet plans that operate on a monthly fee. Weight Watchers’ membership declined 15 percent in the past quarter, to 2.51 million active subscribers.
Information gathered from the Sydney Morning Herald
