Fitness wearables are moving deeper into healthcare and corporate wellness, but could data privacy risks and battery life slow growth?
The global fitness tracker market is expected to more than triple by 2032, climbing from $52.29 billion in 2024 to $189.98 billion, according to a new report from Verified Market Research. That impressive growth is supported by a familiar mix: consumers chasing hyper-personalized insights, employers rolling out wellness perks in the hopes of productivity gains and to cut healthcare costs and wearables getting smarter with AI.
But as trackers shift from lifestyle accessory to healthcare tool, a bigger question looms: will users trust companies with their data, and can devices finally deliver the battery life needed to keep pace in a competitive, often litigious market where patent disputes are common?
Employers are starting to treat wearables as workplace tools, even for safety. Polar’s new Polar 360 offers a screenless band that tracks metrics such as burnout, fatigue and environmental stress. Hospitals and telehealth providers are also integrating wearables into remote monitoring, giving medical teams a view of patient activity and vitals between visits.
Consumers, too, are leaning into digital health. Although developed markets still dominate, adoption is climbing fast in emerging markets such as Asia, Africa and Latin America as awareness and disposable incomes rise, according to the report.
On the fitness side, wearables are becoming part of the business model. F45 Training, in partnership with Endurance Zone, recently rolled out a rewards program tied to member data. Participants can earn points by sharing heart-rate reports from wearing a Lionheart device on social media, completing in-app assessments or registering for the F45 Challenge.
Trackers are also addressing the unique strain of reformer-based strength training, as Whoop partnered with Solidcore earlier this year to capture and correct what many wearables have historically undercounted.
Trackers are also beginning to close longstanding gaps in women’s health. Wearable ring maker Oura has expanded its research into pregnancy and perimenopause, while Garmin and Whoop are tailoring sleep, recovery and performance insights for female users. Ultrahuman also stepped into the space earlier this year, acquiring viO HealthTech and launching Cycle & Ovulation Pro, a Ring Air add-on that adapts OvuSense fertility tracking to confirm ovulation with over 90% accuracy.
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Beyond female-specific uses, trackers continue to create personalized ecosystems where virtual coaching, analytics and AI-powered recommendations turn them into lifestyle companions. Even the wellness tourism sector is leaning on wearables. SHA, a luxury health and longevity resort, has partnered with Whoop to bring real-time recovery and performance tracking into its program, giving guests a Whoop device and clinical consultations as part of weeklong stays.
Despite the momentum, Verified Market Research highlights barriers that could slow adoption. Chief among them: data privacy and battery performance. Trackers collect sensitive health information, including heart rate, sleep patterns and calorie burn. Concerns over how that data is stored, shared and monetized remain a major trust gap. One YouGov survey of British adults, for example, found that nearly half (48%) are concerned wearable tech companies could use their data to learn about their lifestyle, and 59% agree that wearable technology is too expensive.
At the same time, limited battery life and accuracy issues have frustrated users, the report notes. Frequent charging and questionable step counts undermine confidence, especially as trackers take on clinical roles. Without progress on durability, energy efficiency and data security, Verified Market Research warns that expansion into healthcare and corporate wellness could stall.
Still, the opportunities that await are hard to ignore. Devices that incorporate GPS tracking, ECG monitoring, oxygen detection, predictive analytics, AI-powered coaching and recommendations are key drivers, according to the report.