PEDOMETER ALERT! Many free and low-costing models produce inaccurate step counts

As a major setback to the masses striving to improve their health through the 10,000 step program, a recent study reported that a disappointingly high number of pedometers--small devices designed to count steps--are dramatically inaccurate. The British Journal of Sports and Medicine (BJSM) used 35 volunteers, ages 20-60, and assigned 30 different pedometer models to each of them to total over 1,000 individual pedometer tests. The readings from each of the pedometers were then compared to those produced by a sophisticated automated step count log.

Of the over 1,000 tests, 3 of 4 (75%) were more than 10% inaccurate, while 1 of 3 (33%) were more than 50% off. Most of the discrepancies were due to steps being recorded for actions such as sitting down and bending, creating counts that far exceeded actual numbers. Most of the inaccurate pedometers were the less expensive models, which can now be found anywhere from cereal boxes to brochures promoting healthy lifestyles and the 10,000 step program.

A number of step counters have been scientifically tested and proven to be nearly flawless in accuracy. Some of the highly reputable pedometers include: the YamaxDigiwalker SW-200 ($23), considered the gold standard used by many experts to evaluate other pedometers, the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 ($65), which is ideal for overweight walkers since it can be worn below the waist, and the Lifecorder ($295) which tracks intensity and calories, and comes with software to store data. If you happen to have a pedometer and are interested in its accuracy level, visit http://www.pedometers.com/reviews.asp, which has reviewed a number of the more popular pedometers in great detail. For pedometers that don't appear on the list, the easiest method to self-test the devices is to walk a certain amount of steps on your own, keeping track of the number in your head. Check the pedometer intermittently to see if it matches your personal read. Also check the pedometer when sitting, standing and bending, to see if it accidentally registers steps. If you discover that your pedometer is faulty, either through the Web site or self-testing, consider buying a newer model that has already been proven accurate.

-As reported in Shape and BBC News

-By Greg Gargiulo