# Study finds that smartwatches are ‘lying to you’ about how many calories you burned

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-06 12:07 UTC · Category: Technology

## Executive Summary
New research suggests smartwatches may significantly overestimate calorie burn and lack scientific rigor in their 'readiness' scores.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent reports indicate that smartwatches are providing inaccurate data regarding the number of calories users burn during activity. According to coverage from KTLA, a study has found that these wearable devices are essentially 'lying' to consumers about their caloric expenditure. This discrepancy suggests that the metrics provided by these devices may not reflect actual physiological energy use. The findings call into question the reliability of the health data that millions of users rely on for fitness tracking and weight management goals. Specific attention is being paid to the Apple Watch, with AppleMagazine reporting on a study that found a clear pattern of overestimation in calorie accuracy. Beyond just caloric data, StudyFinds has highlighted concerns regarding the 'readiness' scores provided by these devices.


The report suggests that these scores, which claim to tell a user if their body is prepared for intense exercise, may be less scientific than the marketing and interface lead users to believe. This indicates a broader issue with how biometric data is translated into actionable health advice on consumer hardware. This trend matters because wearables have become central to modern health regimes. Users often use these specific numbers to determine their diet or the intensity of their workouts. When a device overestimates calories burned, it can lead to a misunderstanding of one's actual metabolic output. The gap between the perceived scientific nature of these 'readiness' scores and their actual scientific validity suggests a potential misalignment between consumer expectations and the technical capabilities of the sensors used in these watches.


Future developments will likely center on whether manufacturers address these accuracy gaps. Coverage from KTLA and AppleMagazine establishes that the current data is flawed, particularly regarding calorie counts. Watchers should look for responses from the companies involved or further independent studies that quantify the exact margin of error in these overestimations. The focus remains on whether the 'readiness' metrics mentioned by StudyFinds will be revised to be more scientifically grounded or if they will remain as approximate estimations.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| StudyFinds | Smartwatch ‘Readiness’ Score May Be Less Scientific Than It Looks | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxOeExQR3VuYU5jdklmNEkzUndEQWdtTWQ1TS1HTlB6WEl6V1o5WGtDNDZ0RDZlX0pxWWM3ZlFFd0l5eUlrSHB5ak42MG9INnV0aWY3WXJRTm9WLVBqSDNjUnFrc0Zjdy1kS2U5XzQtSkpRVUxqOEtlUUx0Rnh1dGMzNXlRdkg2RUZrcnU4R21jUlk?oc=5) |
| AppleMagazine | Calorie Accuracy: Apple Watch Study Finds Overestimation - AppleMagazine | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMie0FVX3lxTE1Ray1hX2Rka0VSZHdGOUpWZV9JTDl6RU9MWnB1T0otcGxhLXBMeGR2ckVNM2U2YjA1YVNsNGx3LUdqNU9yUUJXbXdNS3ZGXzBTemxhMzhwdVBvdkJ1TjNSYlA3eG40ZEI2b0puWHJIUk50V3Z1bEhHMnNwY9IBgAFBVV95cUxPQUJlNjZfNWgwNjFWYTRyR1VNVkN1M3pBTlg5V3puQ1F3SFhrWDZTWlNRd2JMYXNSSkh5ZE5iVjFCRmxDTTYtTmhhSnlyZFhQcTlSQ3U0V1pENVZjYWltVU9nX2tDUm9WMTR6dkRSRlBKcXFuRHliYjdEclh2UDU4Ug?oc=5) |
| KTLA | Study finds that smartwatches are ‘lying to you’ about how many calories you burned | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxNRXFwbGIycHM1clZGeEw1QXJNWkhUUVhORXpoUVJBWE95ZFc0YjM1d193aHNhWV9yM0tOWE1Lal9SU21TT2Jjd09NS3U0M2ZDenRyaFRmNE9yaVdzeHRqWGw3TVlPMmxzdzlMaXFRcE42TmZ4Z1RGR01OYW9PU1k3ZlBoOW13WjZ3cHBNTUZTTURDcGx3ZkZvaWxKUnR4MDNFVVVPV1EybkxzWmxpWjNhN29scUQ3TW9RcWFmV0E1Y9IBxAFBVV95cUxPV0k0czhRamlfOXlEMU5UcEgyYWFiVXMzTTFGMHFnSHdrRUZfaXNIQ2RmQ25RdkFxLVV5SV82ckNSeUtZTTlqSnVTR1ZSR1I1dkIwRFdOajNVcWZvQW4zX0ZpV2lkM1BVYmhBZWxYaGpLbG5MTmRGdm13VmR1RkhXTVpiS1JZbzR6YTZ0SFgzQUdCaWZ) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-09-06/study-finds-that-smartwatches-are-lying-to-you-about-how-many-calories-you*