Research firm analyzes adoption, use cases, and future business opportunities for wearables and other connected fitness and wellness devices 

New connected health research fromParks Associates finds health applications dominate smart watch use cases. Among the 11% of heads of US broadbandhouseholds that personally own and use smart watches, 76% use their device to track steps, 60% monitor their heart rate, and 53% track calories burned. 360 View: Connected Health At Home: Wellness and Fitness finds 41% of smart watch owners report their most commonly used app is to track calories and/or weight loss goals.

“The market for connected wellness and fitness devices and wearables is surging as people realize their health benefits,” said Kristen Hanich, Senior Analyst, Parks Associates. “Apple and Fitbit are leading the push to mass-market adoption for wrist-worn wearables, but emergence of new types of players in the connected fitness market – such as Peloton – shows the potential for new business models beyond hardware sales. We are starting to see connected fitness products paired with subscription services, classes, and other online and streaming content that lead to ongoing revenue.”

Parks Associates finds that 35% of US broadband households own at least one connected wellness or fitness device. Nearly 25% of US broadband households own a connected fitness tracker or smart watch. Currently only 9% of heads of US broadband households with a connected fitness device have participated in an online exercise class, but the firm notes that as roughly one-third of US broadband households are interested in new wellness and fitness service models, the number of offerings and consumer participation in new health service offerings will steadily increase over the next year.

360 View: Connected Health At Home: Wellness and Fitness quantifies the adoption and use of consumer wearables and other connected fitness devices and evaluates consumer usage patterns and desire for new features.

Additional research:

• 21% of wellness/fitness device owners are already tracking & improving their health via employee wellness programs.
• Led by fitness trackers and smart watches, adoption of connected health and wellness devices has reached over one-third of US broadband households.
• Among heads of US broadband households, 30% personally use at least one connected fitness/wellness device.

For more information about Connected Health At Home: Wellness and Fitness, contact sales@parksassociates.com. To schedule an interview with an analyst or to request specific research data, please contact Sherrelle Lewis at sherrelle.lewis@parksassociates.com 214-996-0214.

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates, a woman-founded and certified business, is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates provides business intelligence and research services through its proprietary methodologies developed over decades, including quarterly surveys of 10,000 internet households.

The company's expertise crosses many industries: home security and smart home, streaming video, broadband and pay-TV services, digital media and platforms, gaming, Wi-Fi and home networks, connected health, support, consumer electronics, home control systems, energy management, and tech solutions for the multi-dwelling (MDU), small-to-medium business (SMB), and commercial building markets.

Each year, Parks Associates brings thousands of leaders together for its webinars and annual events. The firm hosts the annual executive research and strategy conferences CONNECTIONS™, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit, Smart Spaces, and Future of Video. https://www.parksassociates.com

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