Seven in ten American adults are self-tracking their fitness and health -- but only a fifth are relying on technology to do the job, with the other half keeping tabs "in their heads," according to a new survey from Pew Internet Project.

Last week, the project's associate director of digital strategy, Susannah Fox, shared early results at the Connected Health Symposium in Boston.

Of those who don't rely on technology, Fox noted that others may use a pair of skinny jeans to track weight gain -- if the jeans are too tight, it's time to watch the diet more carefully. One-third of self-trackers use a notebook or journal. Half of those who track do so on a regular basis, while the rest do so when something changes and triggers the need to track.

"Smartphones are becoming ubiquitous in the lives of the people who use them, so they offer the potential to turn head-trackers into real trackers, recording more complete data that can help them better manage their health," write the mobile health experts at Mobihealthnews.com on the report.

Fox noted that app developers should aim to make tracking health on mobile phones as easy to do as tracking in your head.

The survey also showed that among self-trackers, 34 percent said the habit affected a health decision, 40 percent said it led them to ask their doctor a new question or seek a second opinion, and 46 percent said self-tracking changed their overall approach to health.

Source: http://www.pewinternet.org/Commentary/2012/October/The-e-is-for-engagement.aspx

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Seven in 10 Americans are self-tracking their health and fitness: survey