If you haven’t been living under a rock, you know how Google Fitbit Labs has opened two major experiments – a 180-day study to test high blood pressure screening with the Pixel Watch, and the Unusual Trend detection.
The Unusual Trend Detection is a newly launched early-alert research tool inside Fitness Labs that notices the quiet shifts in your metrics from your body’s baseline. Unlike standard metrics our wearables throw at us, this feature lets you pull focus on changes caused by recent lifestyle shifts- stress, fatigue, alcohol consumption, illness or disrupted recovery- all before you even notice that something feels “off”.
Here’s everything that is new, how it works and who has access to this feature.
What Is Fitbit Labs?
Think of Fitbit Labs as Google’s experimental playground inside the Fitbit app. Here, some select users have early access to prototype features in exchange for data and feedback that will help Google shape their upcoming Fitbit and Pixel Watch capabilities.
Image Courtesy: 9to5Google
To access Fitbit Labs, head to the You tab in your Fitbit app > Fitbit Labs > See all.
While the first major experiment now rolling out is the Unusual Trend Detection, features are experimental and only available for a limited time. They are also not available to everyone and users can opt out or join a waitlist depending on their will and availability.
Some Labs might also require Fitbit Premium or additional eligibility criteria.
What is Fitbit’s Unusual Trends Feature?
An IBR (Institutional Review Board) approved research study that uses your personal baseline to detect when certain metrics drift beyond their normal range is the Fitbit’s Unusual Trends Feature.
It analyzes signals and metrics such as your HRV, Sleeping heart rate, Respiratory rate during sleep, skin temperature, SpO2, stress score and your logged symptoms. When these metrics shift from their baseline, Fitbit will send you an alert.
These shifts may be because of recent lifestyle changes, such as:
- Physical or emotional stress
- Travel
- Alcohol consumption
- Poor recovery after a strenuous workout
- Illness
- Overtraining
- Disturbed sleep
Can Unusual Trends Diagnose an Illness?
Fitbit has mentioned very clearly that Unusual Trend Detection is a research tool, not a medical device that can be used to diagnose an illness.
The data collected by Google is only used to improve its future algorithms. As for the general public, these alerts are for general awareness and should not be used for medical decision-making.
How Trend Detection Works
The Fitbit Unusual Trend Detection feature analyzes your vitals passively and compares them with your personal baseline. When it notices a drift in these vitals outside of their normal range, you are prompted to:
- Log your symptoms (such as sore throat, fatigue, stress, etc.)
- Note any possible causes or recent lifestyle shifts (travel, alcohol consumption, strenuous workouts, pulling an all-nighter)
- Share optical context
- Follow basic rest and recovery tips provided in the app.
Who Can Access the Unusual Trend Detection Feature?
To have access to the Unusual Trend Detection feature, you must:
- Be 22+ years old
- Be a US resident
- Use the Fitbit app in English
- Be logged in with a Google account
- Use an Android
- Own an eligible device such as a Fitbit or a Pixel Watch model.
Because this is a new feature, even if there are no unusual trends detected, you will receive weekly check-ins to ensure that the algorithm isn’t missing out on anything.
Are You Worried About Your Privacy? This is How Google Will Handle Your Data
Since both the experiments in this study are IBR (Institutional Review Board) approved, your data and privacy are handled with utmost care.
Personally identifiable information is removed and each participant is assigned a unique anonymized ID. The data is solely used to improve the algorithm and for research analysis and only authorised researchers have access to the backend.
Will Unusual Trend Detection Become a Full Fitbit Feature?
Honestly, it’s too early to say if the Unusual Trend Detection feature will be rolled out officially for all Fitbit users at this point.
But this step-by-step rollout, user surveys and algorithm feedback point towards this becoming a part of the future health insigts, possibly integrated into Pixel Watch’s health alerts or Fitbit’s readiness score.
For now, it sure is fascinating to see where the wearable tech is heading- from the ability to put in your blood work to algorithms that tell you something is off before you start feeling it, it is the time for health and wellness to take center stage.
Wrap Up
Brands like WHOOP, Garmin, Oura, Ultrahuman and Evie are already exploring early detection and pre-symptom insights, which are especially useful for people with autoimmune conditions. Now, Fitbit is moving in the same direction.
The goal is to build better machine learning models and understand which signals predict stress or illness in order to eventually feed into a more advanced recovery, readiness or even preventative health features across Pixel and Fitbit devices.
And if you’re wondering if you can use your existing Fitbit without its app, read this.
If you’re trying to troubleshoot your existing Fitbit devices, you can read our other articles:
