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Understanding What Does MyFitnessPal Sync With: A Guide to Integrations

4 min read

Over 200 million people use MyFitnessPal to track their nutrition, but its power is significantly enhanced when connected to other health devices and applications. So, what does MyFitnessPal sync with, and how can these integrations provide a more automated and holistic view of your health and fitness? This guide explores the various ways to connect your favorite tools.

Quick Summary

MyFitnessPal links with a variety of wearables, smart scales, and health applications to synchronize data automatically. This capability allows for consolidated tracking of calories burned, steps taken, weight, and nutritional intake for a unified health record.

Key Points

  • Extensive Compatibility: MyFitnessPal integrates with numerous popular health platforms and devices, including Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Health, and Samsung Health.

  • Automated Data Sync: Connecting devices automates the transfer of key health metrics like calories burned, steps, workouts, and weight into your MyFitnessPal diary.

  • Device-Specific Data Exchange: Certain integrations, like with Garmin and Samsung Health, allow for two-way synchronization of data, updating both apps simultaneously.

  • Supports Smart Scales: Syncing with smart scales from brands like Withings and Renpho automates weight and body fat tracking for convenience.

  • iOS and Android Health Hubs: Apple Health (iOS) and Health Connect (Android) act as central hubs, allowing MyFitnessPal to aggregate data from many different sources.

  • Simple Connection Process: Integrations are easily set up via the 'Apps & Devices' section in the MyFitnessPal mobile app, requiring you to authorize data sharing.

In This Article

For anyone committed to a nutrition and fitness plan, manual data entry can be a chore. The beauty of MyFitnessPal lies in its ability to connect with a wide ecosystem of third-party apps and devices, automating much of the process. Syncing these tools not only saves time but also provides a more accurate and comprehensive picture of your daily health metrics.

Leading Wearable and Health Platform Integrations

MyFitnessPal connects with the most popular fitness trackers and health platforms to exchange valuable data, helping you adjust your calorie goals based on your activity levels.

Fitbit

As one of MyFitnessPal's most popular integrations, Fitbit allows for a seamless data exchange. When you connect your Fitbit account, the following data is synchronized:

  • Exercise and Activity: Steps, distance, calories burned, and recorded workouts.
  • Weight: Your weight log from a Fitbit smart scale, like the Fitbit Aria, is automatically updated in MyFitnessPal.
  • Calorie Adjustment: MyFitnessPal calculates a calorie adjustment based on your Fitbit activity. This either increases your daily calorie goal on active days or, with the 'negative calorie adjustment' feature enabled on the MFP website, can reduce it on less active days.

Garmin Connect

For users of Garmin devices, the Garmin Connect integration provides a robust data sync that helps balance calorie intake with energy expenditure. Key data points that sync include:

  • Activity Data: Activities logged on your Garmin device, including steps and workouts, appear in your MyFitnessPal diary as 'Exercise Calories'.
  • Calorie Balance: Your calorie consumption logged in MFP is sent to Garmin Connect to show a complete calorie balance.
  • Weight: Weight entered in either Garmin Connect or MyFitnessPal will sync to the other platform.

Apple Watch and Apple Health

Apple Watch data syncs with MyFitnessPal indirectly through Apple Health (also known as HealthKit). This requires linking MyFitnessPal to the Apple Health app on your iPhone. Data shared includes:

  • Workouts: Exercise logged via your Apple Watch syncs to MyFitnessPal.
  • Active Energy: Calories burned from workouts are shared.
  • Weight: Weight entered in either app syncs with the other.
  • Meal Summaries: MyFitnessPal sends calorie and macronutrient summaries to Apple Health.

Samsung Health

Android users can connect MyFitnessPal with Samsung Health to create a cohesive tracking experience. The integration facilitates the exchange of data such as:

  • Exercise Data: Workouts logged in Samsung Health are transferred to MyFitnessPal.
  • Calories Eaten: Calorie totals logged in MyFitnessPal are sent to Samsung Health.
  • Water Consumption: Water intake logged in MyFitnessPal syncs to Samsung Health.

Syncing with Smart Scales

Beyond wearables, MyFitnessPal integrates with several brands of smart scales. This feature eliminates the need to manually log your weight and body fat percentage, providing a more convenient and automated way to track your progress.

Popular smart scale partners include:

  • Withings Health Mate
  • Renpho Health
  • VeSync
  • Qardio Scale

Broader Health and Exercise Ecosystem

MyFitnessPal's integrations extend to a wide range of other apps that specialize in specific areas of fitness or health. For instance, Android users can take advantage of the universal Health Connect platform, which acts as a central hub for health data from various apps, including glucose levels from devices like the Dexcom G6. Apps like MapMyFitness (and its related family of apps like MapMyRun and MapMyWalk) also sync cardio exercises directly with MyFitnessPal.

Comparison of Key Sync Integrations

Feature Fitbit Garmin Connect Apple Health Samsung Health
Calories Consumed N/A (Logged in MFP) MFP → Garmin MFP → Apple Health MFP → Samsung
Calories Burned Fitbit → MFP Garmin → MFP Apple Health → MFP Samsung → MFP
Steps Fitbit → MFP Garmin → MFP Apple Health → MFP Samsung → MFP
Weight Two-way sync Two-way sync Two-way sync N/A (via Health Connect)
Exercise Logging Two-way sync Two-way sync Apple Health → MFP Two-way sync
Water Consumption N/A N/A MFP → Apple Health MFP → Samsung

How to Connect Your Devices

Connecting your devices and apps is a straightforward process, typically initiated within the MyFitnessPal app itself.

  1. Open MyFitnessPal: Navigate to the 'More' menu (iOS) or the menu button (Android).
  2. Go to 'Apps & Devices': Tap the 'Apps & Devices' option to see a list of available integrations.
  3. Find Your App/Device: Search for your specific device or app (e.g., Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung Health).
  4. Connect and Authorize: Tap 'Connect' and follow the on-screen prompts. You will be asked to sign in to your third-party account and grant MyFitnessPal permission to access your health data.

Conclusion: The Automated Path to Health

MyFitnessPal’s extensive network of integrations is a game-changer for those seeking a streamlined approach to health tracking. By linking your smart scales, fitness trackers, and other health apps, you can minimize manual data entry and gain a more accurate, holistic understanding of your nutritional intake and physical activity. This automated system ensures your health data is always up-to-date, allowing you to focus more on your health goals and less on tracking them manually.

For more information on the full list of compatible apps and how to connect them, visit the official MyFitnessPal website.

Frequently Asked Questions

MyFitnessPal syncs with the Apple Watch indirectly through the Apple Health app, not directly. You must connect MyFitnessPal to Apple Health and enable permissions for data to be exchanged between the apps.

To connect your Fitbit, go to the 'Apps & Devices' section in the MyFitnessPal app, find 'Fitbit Tracker' in the list, and tap 'Connect'. You will then be prompted to log in to your Fitbit account and grant permissions.

Syncing issues can arise from permission errors, connection delays, or conflicting settings. You can often resolve this by unlinking and then relinking your device in both the MyFitnessPal and the partner app. You should also ensure both apps and your phone's operating system are up-to-date.

Yes, MyFitnessPal integrates with several brands of smart scales, such as Withings, Fitbit, and Renpho. By connecting your scale's app, your weight measurements will be automatically logged in your MyFitnessPal diary.

Garmin Connect and MyFitnessPal exchange several types of data, including steps, workouts, and calories burned. Your caloric intake logged in MFP is also sent to Garmin Connect, and weight can be synced in both directions.

Yes, MyFitnessPal syncs with Samsung Health, allowing for the transfer of food and water consumption logged in MFP, and exercises recorded in Samsung Health. Android users can also use the Health Connect platform as an intermediary.

Once connected, MyFitnessPal automatically calculates an 'Exercise Adjustment' based on the activity data received from your tracker. This adjustment adds calories to your daily goal to account for your increased energy expenditure.

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Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice.