Wearable Technologies in Lifestyle Medicine

Abstract

Wearable technologies are electronic computing devices, capable of primarily functioning passively, attached and detached from the body freely, and commonly connected with the internet. These devices can monitor many aspects of lifestyle medicine, including physical activity, nutrition, and sleep, as well as other parameters of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular (e.g., heart rate/rhythm and blood glucose), pulmonary, and sleep. There are data supporting the use of wearables in the elderly, frail, and those with orthopedic, neurologic, and/or neoplastic conditions. Various applications can be developed to improve and personalize the use of these devices, especially for event nudges that can sustain healthy lifestyles in order to decrease the risk for chronic disease. In sum, popularization of wearable technologies and applications, and their routine incorporation in Lifestyle Medicine Center protocols, can optimize primordial, primary, and secondary prevention modalities.