Fitbit’s new Estimated Oxygen Variation graph has been available to all Charge 3, Ionic, Versa, Versa Lite, and Versa 2 users for the last month. This new feature was originally announced six months ago and began rolling out to some users in January.
It utilises the red and infrared sensors on the back of a Fitbit device to estimate the variability in your blood oxygen saturation level.
In my case the data for the last month shows my variability is low which is good.
The graph, which users can see in the Fitbit app under the Sleep tile, approximates the changes in your blood oxygen saturation while you sleep.
Blood oxygen saturation measures the percent of your blood that’s saturated with oxygen. Typically, it’s at 95-100%, meaning the blood is carrying as much oxygen as it can.
If you stop breathing or have other lung issues, the saturation level can fall since less oxygen enters the body.
In general, variations should be low and seeing frequent, big variations could be a sign that you may be experiencing breathing disturbances during sleep.
The graph is another example of Fitbit’s commitment to providing more useful data to its users, but it is not intended for medical purposes. You should always consult your health care professional about any questions or health issues you may have.
