Truth About Wearable Devices

December 2025

“Truth in Medicine” Poll: Santa, Are You Listening? Wearable Health Devices Are a Hot Wish-List Item

Poll respondents say they inspire healthier habits and follow-up appointments with physicians:

• 44 percent wear health monitoring or wearable fitness devices; 39 percent have used direct-to-consumer health products
  
• 74 percent of device wearers say they share their information with their doctors 
  
• One-third of respondents say a wearable health/fitness device is on their holiday wish list
  

Of the 600 adults who were polled in New York City and on Long Island, 44 percent wear health monitoring or wearable fitness devices, and 39 percent have used direct-to-consumer health products, such as at-home COVID-19 testing kits. Sixty-three percent say the devices and products make them more likely to visit their physician, while 24 percent say they make them less likely to visit. Of the many wearable device users, 53 percent use the Apple Watch, while 28 percent use a Fitbit or other step-tracking device, and 25 percent wear a continuous glucose monitor. Just 6 percent of respondents use the Oura Ring and 5 percent the Whoop.

To take some guesswork out of your holiday shopping, consider this: 33 percent of respondents say a health monitoring/wearable fitness device is on their holiday wish list. Those who already wear a device are, by far, the most likely to want a new one.

The most popular home testing product is the COVID-19 test, with 85 percent of respondents confirming that they have used it. Twenty-four percent have used the FluMist vaccine (which is ordered through the "FluMist Home" program and can be self-administered by adults between the ages of 18-49 and administered to children between the ages of 2-17 by a caregiver/parent), while 21 percent have used diabetes testing. Seventeen percent have used HERS and 8 percent HIMS (HIMS and HERS,  a telehealth company providing personalized healthcare for men and women through an online platform, now offer “Labs,” which offer up to 120 at-home biomarker tests across 10 health areas with personalized action plans); 12 percent have used Cologuard; and 3 percent DNA testing ... read more

• "Truth In Medicine" Poll Press Release
• "Truth In Medicine" Poll Results (PDF)