(HL-과학/기술/교육) Do Fitness Trackers Help You Lose Weight?

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We begin with bad news for people who bought a wearable fitness tracker in hopes of losing weight. A new study finds the electronic device probably does not help with weight loss. The study was a project of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Fitness trackers are designed to record your physical activity. They are usually worn around the wrist, where they measure a person’s heart rate. The University of Pittsburgh research team looked at two groups of individuals. The first wore a fitness tracker and took part in health counseling. In other words, they spoke with nutrition and physical fitness experts to consider the best weight loss plan. The researchers compared this group with people who only took part in health counseling. The study found that those who simply had health counseling lost more weight than those who had counseling and wore a fitness tracker. In fact, those who only spoke with the health experts lost nearly six kilograms. Those who used a fitness tracker lost only 3.5 kilograms. John Jakicic is the lead researcher. He is also chairman of the university’s Department of Health and Physical Activity. He questioned the use of electronic devices as tools for weight control in place of “effective behavioral counseling for physical activity and diet.”
* wearable = 착용하기에 적합한 ; 옷 등이 착용감이 좋은/ fitness tracker = 신체 단련 추적기/ in hopes of[that ~] ~ = ~의 희망을 가지고/ electronic device = 전기기구/ help with ~ = ~을 돕다, 거들다/ physical activity = 신체 활동(운동)/ wrist = 손목, 팔목/ heart rate = 심박동수(心搏動數)/ take part in ~ = ~에 참여[참가]하다, 가담하다; 협력하다/ in other words = 다시 말해서/ nutrition = 영양(처리 과정)/ question = 의심하다, 의문을 갖다; 이의를 제기하다/ in place of ~ = ~을 대신해서  

The study involved 470 subjects between the ages of 18 and 35. Some of them were overweight, while others were heavier and considered obese. Over three fourths of the subjects were women, and 29 percent were minorities. The researchers told all the subjects to increase their physical activity. The men and women also were told to start on a low calorie diet. The subjects were told to have their weight measured once every six months over the two-year study. After six months, researchers divided the group into two parts: one continued with monthly counseling, while members of the other group were given a wearable fitness tracker. Eighteen months later, both groups "showed significant improvements in body composition, fitness, physical activity, and diet,” with no major difference between groups. However, when it came to losing weight, the people who spoke with experts lost nearly twice as much weight. Jakicic said the study’s findings “are important because effective long-term treatments are needed to address America's obesity epidemic.” He warned that “questions remain regarding the effectiveness of wearable devices.” More information is needed, he adds, to learn how to best use these devices to change “physical activity and diet behaviors” in adults who want to lose weight. The researchers published their findings in The Journal of the American Medical Association.
* overweight = 과체중의, 비만의/ obese = 비만인/ three fourths = 4분의 3/ subject = 연구[실험] 대상, 피험자/ minority = (한 사회・국가 내의) 소수집단; (한 집단의 절반이 못 되는) 소수/ sigificant = (영향을 주거나 두드러질 정도로) 중요한[의미 있는/커다란]/ body composition = (신)체 성분(身體成分)/ address = (문제・상황 등에 대해) 고심하다[다루다]/ obesity epidemic = 비만 유행성/ findngs(주로복수) = (조사・연구 등의) 결과[결론]  

Do Fitness Trackers Help You Lose Weight - WTS.mp3