Can You Trust Metabolism Tracker Gadgets?

Metabolism tracker devices are trying to become the next new hot gadgets as fitness trackers become essentially ubiquitous. Companies are already offering pocket-sized devices that are supposed to use a person’s breath to determine how efficiently they are burning calories or even digesting their food.  But are these devices really everything they claim to be? Let’s take a closer look.

What is a Metabolism Tracker?

A metabolism tracker is a type of gadget that you blow into so that the gases (primarily carbon dioxide levels) from your breath can be analyzed to better understand what’s going on in your digestive system.  Two of the first examples of these devices include Lumen and FoodMarble.  They pair with smartphone apps with the promise of allowing you to get to know how well your body is burning through calories or digesting food.

The idea is that the metabolism tracker user is supposed to be able to gain a better understanding of how their body works. Then, they can make informed decisions based on the variability of the metabolic rate, to choose the right meals, snacks and timing.

Do These Gadgets Work?

According to the companies that developed and are selling their metabolism trackers, these gadgets are a helpful way to monitor the metabolic rate.  They take the guess work out of the impact of a high-sugar dish or the number of calories burned from that high-intensity workout.  This is supposed to be possible because the app interprets the readings taken by the device in order to let the user know whether they are burning carbohydrates or fat.

Scientists, however, are cautioning that the gadgets are unproven.  The companies that developed them have been testing them themselves, but large-scale independent research has yet to be conducted to provide the type of conclusive peer-reviewed evidence that allows effectiveness to be reliably measured.

Should You Use a Metabolism Tracker that Measures Your Breath?

The decision as to whether you’d like to own and use a metabolism tracker is completely up to you.  That said, keep in mind that while they remain unproven, they do come with a rather hefty price tag.  They’ll typically retail for around $299, which is certainly not pocket change.

The results and app might be interesting, but until scientific study can evaluate these devices, it’s important to have many other strategies in place to track your habits in a reliable and more evidence-supported way.