In almost every country the internet has become one of an essential tool, and the number of people accessing the net has been growing steadily in the past decade. In fact, according to Internet Live Stats nearly 40% of the world’s population has an Internet connection. Dig a little deeper and it is estimated that nearly half of the approximately 3.47 billion people with Internet access are located in Asia. China makes up around 721 million of those users, which means that just over 52% of the population has access to the Internet, with near exponential growth expected in the near future thanks to the high number of mobile devices and affordable data plans in the country. It’s not just mobile phones that have become incredibly popular in China, there is a growing demand for internet connected devices like wearables.
According to Wareable, there were 9.5 million wearables sold in three months (April to June 2016) in China. Here, we take a look at the latest health-related wearables available in China and some of the health benefits these offer to people who wear them.
Top 5 wearables in China
Fitbit
Fitbit is arguably the most well-known fitness and health-oriented wearable. With eight different products available in China, the majority being a type of band one wears around their wrist, there is a wide variety of devices to select from.
One of the most popular devices sold by Fitbit is the Charge 2 which tracks everything from sleep patterns to steps to heart rate and even VO2 max, which is a measurement many athletes use to judge their level of fitness.
Like many of the other fitness bands available in China, Fitbit offers a companion app for all devices which communicates with the band to track information and display it in an easy to read format. Overall, the app is excellent and many of the bands offer accurate tracking.
Jawbone
Globally, Jawbone is the biggest competitor to Fitbit, with many people usually deciding between the two. Jawbone’s popular UP line offers three models that track all of the most important things people look for in wearables, including distance traveled, steps taken, sleep, and even food consumed. Some of the more advanced models, like the UP 3, also track your heart rate.
Many users select the Jawbone due to the fact that all three models available are much more fashionable and less noticeable than other devices on the market.
Bong
A relatively new company from China, Bong creates some visually appealing smart wearable devices that function not only as wearables but as fashion accessories as well. With six different models to select from, you can bet there is a device that will fit your style and needs.
The most popular device to date is the Bong XX which is an affordable device that tracks almost everything people want, including heart rate, sleep cycles, activity and more. What sets this device apart, however, is that it is largely waterproof. There is also a companion app you can install on your phone to view all the data tracked.
XiaoMi
XiaoMi is one of those Chinese success stories that seems to be doing nothing but growing. The company has been introducing a steady number of gadgets with internet connectivity and near unbeatable prices. Earlier this year they released the newest version of their popular fitness tracker, the Mi Band.
Dubbed the Mi Band 2, this wearable integrates an LCD screen into the device, which displays information including the time. It also tracks movement, steps taken, sleep, and heart beat. While it is a bit less flashy when it comes to features, the price of the device more than makes up for it. Beyond that, there is a companion app you can install on your phone to track all of your activity.
Huawei
Like XiaoMi, Huawei is an electronics company that has devices for nearly every niche. When it comes to fitness-oriented wearables they have the TalkBand. The latest band, the B3 comes in three different styles and looks more like a luxury watch than a fitness tracker, with a variety of popular watch-like bands and cases.
Like the other devices in this list, the B3 tracks your activity and sleep, but what sets this device apart is the fact that the tracker doubles as a Bluetooth headset. This means that when connected with your phone you can place and take calls without having to take it out of your pocket.
Health benefits of wearables
Here are four benefits people who use wearable fitness trackers have found:
1. Data collection
When we visit a doctor we may be asked about our exercise routines and whether we get enough of it to remain healthy. By tracking exactly what you do, you can provide the doctor with accurate information that can be a big help in determining what type of care they will administer.
Beyond that, the sleep tracker functions are also quite important as the data collected can help specialists determine the quality of sleep we are getting and whether anything can be changed to ensure we remain healthy.
2. They help to motivate us to move
Let’s face it, while we all should be exercising at least 30 minutes a day, it can be hard to fit this in. Many wearables actually have features where they will vibrate when you have been sitting too long, telling us we should get up and move around a bit. Most also integrate exercise sensors that accurately tell us how much we are moving. We have seen many people use this information to set reachable movement goals and even compete with others.
This increased movement can help reduce some costly and debilitating health issues such as stroke, heart attack, and more.
3. Data collected can help us predict health issues
When it comes to certain conditions, such as heart failure, it can be tough for doctors to determine if treatments are working. By tracking things like heart rate and sleep constantly, doctors can more accurately predict if their treatment is working and move to implement changes before problems become worse.
4. They could help reduce our premiums
Finally, wearables combined with lifestyle improvements could help some people reduce their premiums. For example, if you are overweight you will likely be paying a higher premium, especially if you have had health problems related to being overweight. If you start to exercise regularly and track this information along with weight loss you could use it to help show insurers that you are committed to living a healthier life.
While wearable data won’t reduce premiums by itself, it can be an indicator to insurers that you are taking steps to reduce your risk of submitting a claim. This can be used to help with premium negotiations, especially after a few years of solid results.
One thing to point out here is that, while embarking on a new exercise regime backed by a fitness tracker is a great idea, it is important to visit a doctor before doing so, especially if you have had health issues in the recent past. Combine this with the fact that there is always a chance you could injure yourself and need to see a doctor – which could be expensive – and it is clear to see that having a quality health insurance plan in place could be a big help. Contact Pacific Prime China today to learn more.
Disclaimer: Pacific Prime China solely represents, operates and manages locally regulated insurance products and services in the territory of PR China. Any references to Pacific Prime Global Company or Group, the international services, insurance products or otherwise stated written or verbally, is for introduction purposes about our overseas network only as each entity is fully independent.