The best pedometer (aka fitness tracker) will help you reach your goals. ... A large review of research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people using a pedometer were more active, had healthier weights, and decreased their blood pressure compared to those who didn't.

Is it worth getting a pedometer?

Although pedometers are great at counting steps, they can't do anything else. You can't use a pedometer to measure your heart rate, count calories burned, or monitor your sleep. ... Even the JAMA study, which found pedometers were highly effective, noted that not many people used them.

Are steps really necessary?

Walking is great for your health, but you don't need to hit a certain target to see benefits. ... But the reduction in risk appeared to max out at about 7,500 steps a day, and researchers found no additional benefits to walking 10,000 or more daily steps.