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.
- Open MyFitnessPal: Navigate to the 'More' menu (iOS) or the menu button (Android).
- Go to 'Apps & Devices': Tap the 'Apps & Devices' option to see a list of available integrations.
- Find Your App/Device: Search for your specific device or app (e.g., Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung Health).
- 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.