Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Feb 8: Doctors and public health experts have welcomed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) increasing focus on wearable technology, saying devices such as smartwatches and activity trackers could play a crucial role in accurately measuring physical activity and addressing sedentary lifestyles.

Reacting to deliberations at the WHO’s recent meeting in Montreal, physicians said wrist-worn devices offer a more reliable alternative to traditional self-reported surveys, which often underestimate levels of physical inactivity. Continuous monitoring through wearables can generate objective, real-time data, enabling governments to design more targeted and evidence-based health interventions.

Dr B Venkat Nani Kumar, consultant in internal medicine, said wearable technology helps bridge the gap between lifestyle advice and measurable behaviour. “Metrics such as step count, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time directly correlate with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health outcomes. Having population-level data allows for early and preventive strategies,” he said.

Doctors noted that India and other low- and middle-income countries are facing a growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases linked to physical inactivity. They said affordable smartwatches, if standardised under WHO guidance, could strengthen national health surveillance systems and support community-level screening programmes.

City-based doctors also underlined the need for inclusive validation of devices. “Wearables must recognise varied movement patterns and step equivalents, especially in ageing populations,” a physician said, while stressing the importance of data privacy and ethical use of health information.

Welcoming WHO’s roadmap for open-source algorithms and independent evaluation of wearable devices, experts cautioned that strong regulatory frameworks would be essential. Dr Kiran Madhala, professor at Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, said WHO’s shift reflects rapid advances in artificial intelligence and digital health tools, calling it a progressive step towards improved monitoring of physical activity worldwide.