Physical Wellness

Fitbit Sued for Inaccurate Heart Rate Monitor Readings

By Cheri Cheng | Update Date: Jan 08, 2016 10:35 AM EST

Fitbit manufacturers are being sued for allegedly misleading their consumers. According to the lawsuit, which was filed in California, the plaintiffs are claiming that the Fitbit Charge HR and Surge models do not accurately read their heart beats during exercise.

Fitbit is a device, worn on the wristband that aims to help people get fit and healthy by tracking their heart rate.

The lawsuit states that the device is underestimating people's heart rate during exercise, an issue that could potentially lead to serious health consequences.

It writes, "Far from 'counting every beat,' the PurePulse Trackers do not and cannot consistently and accurately record wearers' heart rates during the intense physical activity for which Fitbit expressly markets them."

One plaintiff, Teresa Black from Colorado, stated that the heart rate recorded by her Fitbit during a personal training session was almost half of the rate that her personal trainer recorded manually.

"Plaintiff Black was approaching the maximum recommended heart rate for her age, and if she had continued to rely on her inaccurate PurePulse Tracker, she may well have exceeded it, thereby jeopardizing her health and safety," the lawsuit continued.

The lawsuit also references Fitbit's marketing campaign that used "Every Beat Counts" and "Know Your Heart" slogans.

Fitbit has responded to the claim, stating, according to CBS News, "We do not believe this case has merit. Fitbit stands behind our heart rate technology and strongly disagrees with the statements made in the complaint and plans to vigorously defend the lawsuit. But it's also important to note that Fitbit trackers are designed to provide meaningful data to our users to help them reach their health and fitness goals, and are not intended to be scientific or medical devices."

The very first Fitbit product, the Fitbit Tracker, entered the market back in 2008. The two models in the lawsuit retail around $150 to $250 each.

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