Are Fitbit sleep trackers accurate?

[Picklemeyellow]

I purchased a Fitbit recently, one of the cheaper models but think it works well all the same.

I wanted it mainly for tracking my sleep patterns as I’ve been really struggling with tiredness for a while (am perimenopausal and stressed so definitely not helping the cause). My GP is not overly helpful when I spoke to her about this.

Since I started wearing the Fitbit a few weeks ago I’ve tracked my sleep every night. Some days it will give a ‘good’ rating of around 85 but the majority of readings are just ‘fair’ with the most of my sleep hours spent in the light section and I appear to be awake for long periods too, although I have no recollection of this. Last night, for instance, I felt as though I had slept well and did not wake at all but it’s says I was awake for just over an 1hr with a fair reading of 78 and only 39m of deep sleep. In fact, the longest I appeared to have gone into deep sleep was on a Saturday night and that was for just over an hour.

Are these trackers accurate?

I now appear to have more questions than answers since getting this bloody thing lol!

I don’t think they’re fully accurate - mine told me I slept from 3am until 8am this morning, and I was definitely asleep for midnight. I think you need to wear them quite tight (as in able to get 1 finger down the band) and above your wrist.

Mine occasionally has a blip and tells me something random like I didn't get to sleep until hours after I actually did. But it mostly seems fairly accurate.

They will only ever give you a general overview, they aren't as accurate as a proper medical device e.g. the one you get for an Apnea sleep study.

It's useful for trying things out to see if they improve or worsen sleep, but overall I'd take it with a pinch of salt.

If you're struggling with tiredness it is worth having blood tests done to look for vitamin deficiencies, thyroid level and if still no useful info maybe doing a sleep study.

If you think sleep might be the issue might be worth approaching GP requesting sleep study first.