Designing a Body-Positive Health Tracking Feature for Fitbit: A UX Case Study

Goals

Develop a body scan feature that meets these challenges and empowers users to track their progress without fixating on a single number.
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Overview

This case study explores a proposed body scan feature for Fitbit, designed to offer a holistic and less stressful way to track physical progress.

Challenge

Create a feature that integrates seamlessly with Fitbit's design, provides a visual representation of progress, and avoids traditional, negative metrics.
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My Role

UX/UI Designer.

Target Users

Active individuals of all ages interested in health and fitness.
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Tools

Figma, Adobe Photoshop.

Overview

As a long-time Fitbit user, I experienced firsthand the app's benefits in helping me establish a healthier lifestyle. However, the constant focus on weight became a source of stress and potential obsession. Research supports the idea that regular body scans and measurements provide a more comprehensive and less triggering way to track progress, regardless of age. I set out to design a Fitbit body scan feature that would empower users of all ages to celebrate their achievements without fixating on a single number.

Understanding the Problem

The traditional reliance on weight as a sole indicator of health progress can be detrimental to users' well-being. It doesn't account for muscle mass, body composition, or individual differences in body shapes. This issue is relevant across age groups, as people's health and fitness goals vary throughout their lives.
I aimed to create a solution that would address these shortcomings and provide a more positive and accurate representation of users' physical changes over time, regardless of their age.
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Users and Audience

The target audience for this feature includes active Fitbit users of all ages. These users are likely:
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Motivated to improve their health and fitness but may feel discouraged by the focus on weight.
Interested in tracking their progress in a more comprehensive and body-positive way.
Comfortable using technology to monitor their health data.

Scope

  • Body Scan Functionality: Integrating a user-friendly body scan feature into the Fitbit app using the smartphone camera. Users are guided through a simple process of capturing front, side, and back images to create a 3D body model.
  • Measurement Tracking (Optional): Allowing users to manually input and track body measurements, providing additional data points for those who desire them.
  • Visual Progress Representation: Displaying a 3D body model on the dashboard that dynamically updates over time to reflect users' physical changes. This serves as the primary visual cue for progress, promoting a body-positive mindset.
  • Integration with Existing Fitbit Features: Ensuring seamless integration with the app's existing dashboard, activity tracking, and goal-setting features, allowing users to easily access and utilize the body scan alongside their other health data.
  • Age-Inclusive Design: Considering the needs and preferences of users across different age groups by ensuring accessibility and ease of use for everyone. This includes clear instructions, adjustable font sizes, and high contrast visuals.

Constraints

  • Technical Limitations: The accuracy and complexity of the 3D body model generation would need to be balanced with the smartphone's capabilities.
  • Privacy Concerns: Protecting users' body scan data and ensuring their comfort and consent were paramount throughout the design process.
  • Design Consistency: The new feature needed to align with Fitbit's established design language and user experience, ensuring a familiar and intuitive interface for existing users.

Process

1. Research: I conducted thorough research on existing body scan apps and gathered feedback from Fitbit users of various ages to understand their needs, pain points, and preferences.
2. Ideation and Prototyping: Initial sketches and wireframes explored various user flows and feature possibilities. I created an interactive prototype of the body scan feature within the Fitbit app, focusing on simplicity and ease of use.
3. Usability Testing: I conducted usability tests with 7 users of varying ages, prompting them to complete a body scan and add their measurements (optional). Feedback highlighted the need to adjust certain visual elements and touch targets for improved usability, particularly for older users.

4. Refinement and Implementation: Based on user feedback, I refined the design, addressing color contrasts, touch target sizes, and overall visual clarity. The final design seamlessly integrated the body scan feature into the Fitbit app, offering a user-friendly onboarding experience and clear instructions for first-time users.
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Outcomes and Learnings

Conclusion

This proposed Fitbit body scan feature successfully addresses the need for a more holistic and body-positive approach to health tracking for users of all ages. By providing an intuitive way to visualize progress and track body changes, it empowers users to celebrate their achievements and build a healthier relationship with their bodies. This concept aligns with Fitbit's mission to help people lead healthier, more active lives and has the potential to further enhance the app's appeal to a wider audience.
Driven by curiosity, creativity, and clarity.
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