The Best Fitness Trackers for Overweight Women

It will be nice if everyone sees fitness as a journey and not a sprint. This will help people to appreciate the patience required to become fit and be able to track their progress. For overweight women, tracking progress and staying motivated is key, and that’s where using the best fitness trackers come in.

All people can benefit from fitness trackers, but some are more plus-size-friendly than others. So, let’s look at the best fitness trackers for overweight women. And you will also get a practical advice to help you find your perfect tech companion that makes you happy.

Increase in your physical activity plays a big role in helping to your weight, but most women who are overweight or obese are generally physically inactive. So, using wearable activity tracker devices can help increase their level of physical activity and as lead to weight loss (Watson, Sullivan and Knittle, 2021). Let’s see what a fitness tracker can do for you:

• Remember that every step counts, whether it’s to the fridge or around your block, they are important. So, this device will include them, and you will be able to know how many steps you take each day. Most best fitness trackers for overweight women can monitor your heart rate and activity levels

• It is not only that fitness trackers count your steps, but they are also perfect for ensuring you are working out safely and effectively. They do the work of monitoring your heart rate while you exercise. So, you should go for fitness trackers with heart rate monitoring for women.

• Rest is just as important as exercise, because you need to recover from your previous exercise. Here, the devices can help you to track your sleep to ensure you have adequate rest and ready for the next workout.

• Some devices can estimate your body’s blood oxygen saturation level which can help you know your overall health and fitness. Checking your oxygen level can help gauge how your body is absorbing oxygen (Eadicicco, 2022).

• Nothing feels better than hitting that step or calorie-burn goal and feeling that you are winning the game of your fitness. So, they can help you set a target and work towards achieving them.

• Seeing progress over time can help you continue to move, even on the day you feel like not going out. They have a way of making you enjoy your activities, and it will look good on your body too.

Because all fitness trackers are not one-size-fits for all, there are some functions you should look out for when going for one. Best fitness trackers for overweight women have some qualities that will give the desired results. Here are some features you should consider first:

• Adjustable Bands: Look for trackers with larger or interchangeable bands to ensure a comfortable fit on your body.
• Easy-to-Read Display: It should be easy for you to read even if you are on a motion. Because squinting at tiny numbers during a workout is no fun and can interfere with your exercise routine.
• Battery Life: You should go for a tracker that has longer battery life, because you can’t keep interrupting you exercise to charge your device.
• Water Resistance: There are some that have water-proof quality. So, I suggest you go for sweat-proof and shower-proof options to avoid damage.
• Comprehensive Tracking: Look for trackers that have some features that will check your health status alongside with your fitness; features like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, oxygen level monitoring and calorie burn estimates.

Do you want to tract your progress? Then go for user-friendly fitness trackers designed for overweight women to make you stay motivated. Here are some of the best fitness trackers on the market, tailored to fit and motivate plus-size women to exercise their way to fitness:

Fitbit charge 5 is an excellent fitness tracker that many people love, and it’s always delivering good features. The device has some features that most other trackers don’t have.

• Fitbit charge 5 has a slim design with a large, colourful display that you will love.
• It tracks your steps, heart rate, sleep, and your stress levels.
• Fitbit charge 5 comes with adjustable bands, including larger sizes that will fit you better.
• It offers you guided workouts and mindfulness sessions.

The Charge 5 has a comfortable fit and comprehensive features to help you stay on top of your health. So, some health-related issues of obesity will be monitored along with your exercise routine. It also synchronizes with the Fitbit app, which gives you access to detailed progress reports and challenges. So, this fitness tracker for weight loss in women can be an added help to achieve results.

If you are a woman who wants a tracker that’s like “all-in-one smartwatch,” Garmin delivers the right features for you. Since, it is one of the activity trackers that are suitable for overweight females, you will be happy with it.

• Garmin Venu Sq 2 can track your steps, heart rate, and sleep.
• It includes preloaded workouts and hydration tracking for you.
• Garmin Venu Sq 2 has stylish square design with multiple band options for your body size.
• Its battery life can last up to 11 days; so, you don’t have to charge it regularly.

The Venu Sq 2 has an easy-to-read display and larger bands available, so you won’t feel like you’re squeezing into your fitness gear. It also has a hydration tracker which is a fantastic feature to reminder you to drink water. Always remember that taking enough water is important if you want to achieve your desired fitness outcome.

For women who like or use Apple products, this smartwatch is the perfect addition to your devices. It has some fantastic features that you will enjoy.

• Apple Watch Series 9 can track your activity, heart rate, and sleep.
• It synchronizes seamlessly with your iPhone and apps like MyFitnessPal.
• Apple Watch Series 9 offers you some interchangeable bands, including larger sizes that will fit your wrist.
• It includes some features for you such as fall detection and mindfulness apps.

The Apple Watch isn’t just only a fitness tracker it’s also a lifestyle accessory. It keeps you connected while helping you stay on track with your health goals.

If you are looking for a solid fitness tracker that is cost effective, the Amazfit Band 7, will be a good match for it. It has some interesting features even though it is less expensive like some others.

• Amazfit Band 7 has a slim design with a bright AMOLED display.
• It can track your steps, heart rate, and stress levels.
• Amazfit Band 7 offers you over 120 sports modes.
• It has an impressive 18-day battery life so that you will not need to charge it regularly.

The Amazfit Band 7 is wallet-friendly and comes with features you would expect in higher-end models. It has a larger band option which makes it fit and comfortable on your body.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is one of the best fitness trackers for Android users which has so many interesting features. This tracker can help you achieve your workout goals.  

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 can track your activity, heart rate, and sleep patterns.
• It has stylish design with larger band options that will fit you well.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 includes a rotating bezel for your easy navigation.
• It offers you a body composition analysis which will motivate you, if you use it wisely.

The Galaxy Watch 6 provides a nice look with powerful features. The body composition tool helps you to track your progress beyond the scale, so you can focus on muscle gain and fat loss.

People are more motivated to push themselves when they can visually see their activity levels. It also helps them progress to their next fitness level. So, seeing your progress can give you a feeling of accomplishment, which in turn increases your motivation (InKin Social Fitness, 2018). 

But some women are reluctant about buying a fitness tracker. Even when they eventually get one, the hard part of it is to use it to practice their workout routine. Sometimes they lose interest in working out (InKin Social Fitness, 2018). So, let’s see some tips that can motivate you to exercise with it and enjoy it:

Have a target of what you can achieve within a specified time. You should start small, like 5,000 steps a day, and work your way up. Pick an activity (or range of activities) that appeals to you that you are confident to manage and that suit your lifestyle and your income. Choose an activity that is close to home or work, also, rather than aiming for a set amount of weight loss, aim for 4 activity sessions per week (Department of Health, State of Victoria, 2015).

Many trackers have group challenges where you can compete with friends or other users. When you see your friends working hard to achieve results you will also be encouraged to do more.

Always celebrate yourself for small wins. This win may be like finishing your step goal. Treat yourself with something you enjoy, no matter how small, it helps.

Take note of how far you have gone with your fitness journey. This can be a great motivation on days you feel like not doing anything.

Pair your tracker with activities you enjoy, like dancing, hiking, or chasing your kids around the park. You can also invite your friends to take part in your walk challenge.

Most of the best fitness trackers for women with larger wrists will fit you well. Also some brands offer larger band sizes or adjustable options. Whenever you are unsure, check the product description or look for third-party bands.

Having a fitness tracker is like an investment in your health. Also, seeing your progress with a fitness tracker will help you keep yourself motivated. Remember that there are affordable and durable fitness trackers suitable for overweight females that you will like. A review found that when participants wore a fitness tracker, they did an hour more exercise a week than those who didn’t wear one.  So, it worth it to buy it for tracking your fitness progress (Woman and Home, 2024).

Some fitness trackers work independently, but most synchronize with a phone to give you detailed statistics. I suggest that you look for simpler models if you are not good at technology. There are some smartwatches for tracking fitness in plus-size women that don’t require other devices.

Fitness trackers can be game changers for overweight women looking to track their progress and stay motivated throughout their workouts. Whether you are walking, dancing, or powerlifting your way to better health, the right device can help you celebrate every milestone along the way. Remember that the best fitness tracker is the one that works for you; fits your wrist, your budget, and your lifestyle and make you happy.

1. Department of Health, State of Victoria (2015). Physical activity – staying motivated. Retrieved 16 January 2025 from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/physical-activity-staying-motivated
2. Eadicicco, L (2022). Smartwatches Have Measured Blood Oxygen for Years. But Is This Useful? Retrieved 16 January 2025 from https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/smartwatches-have-measured-blood-oxygen-for-years-but-is-it-useful/
3. InKin Social Fitness (2018). How A Fitness Tracker Creates Motivation and Accountability. Retrieved 16 January 2025 from https://www.inkin.com/blog/en/How-A-Fitness-Tracker-Creates-Motivation-And-Accountability#
4. Watson, G; Sullivan, A and Knittle, K (2021). A Wearable Activity Tracker Intervention with and Without Weekly Behavioural Support Emails to Promote Physical Activity Among Women Who Are Overweight or Obese: Randomized Controlled Trial. Retrieved 16 January 2025 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8729328/
5. Woman and Home (2024). Are fitness trackers worth it? Here’s what I’ve learnt after 5 years of using one 24/7. Retrieved 16 January 2025 from https://www.womanandhome.com/health-wellbeing/are-fitness-trackers-worth-it/

Author: Ikenna Nathan Ojiegbe. First Published: 27th January 2025. Last Updated: 15th March 2025

Disclaimer:
The information is for the purpose of education only. It does not assess individual needs and does not constitute personal advice; hence, it should not replace professional consultations with your health care practitioner or trainer. This information should not be used to make health-related diagnoses or to treat any health problems. Consult with your health care provider before depending on any information in this article or on this website. Image on this article is AI-genegrated.