It’s one of the most popular fitness tracker brands around, but a new study may put you off buying a Fitbit .
Researchers from Tic Watches, have revealed that Fitbit watches can be up to eight times dirtier than a toilet.
In the study, the researchers tested various watches, smartwatches and trackers for bacteria, yeast and mould.
Their results revealed that each watch harboured a worrying amount of bacteria, yeast and mould, with the average scoring three times dirtier than a toilet seat.
Fitbit came out as the worst culprit, and on average was eight times dirtier than a toilet seat.
At the other end of the scale, metal watches were found to harbour the least amount of bacteria, yeast and mould.
Daniel Richmond, Managing Director of Tic Watches, said: “Whether you wear a watch every day, or just during working hours, one thing is for certain, we don’t clean them as much as we wash our hands.
“And unfortunately, the majority of smartwatches are not waterproof so avoiding any contact with water when we’re wearing them could be the main reason for a build-up of bacteria.
“For those who wear a watch every day, particularly during exercise, we recommend giving it a good clean at least once a month with a wipe / damp tissue.
“Not only will this keep your watch looking as good as new, but it will keep unsafe bacteria at bay.”
