Consultation period: 8 November 2026 to 6 December 2026
Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are major risk factors for noncommunicable diseases and poor mental health. Advances in wearable technologies provide an opportunity to complement existing surveillance approaches with objective measures of movement behaviours. However, their use in routine population health monitoring remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO has developed a draft target product profile (TPP) for wrist-worn wearable devices intended for use in national and subnational population health monitoring systems. The TPP defines the minimum and additional device specifications for a fit-for-purpose device used to measure physical activity and sedentary behaviour in population health surveillance across diverse settings. In addition to defining device characteristics, the TPP outlines broader requirements and considerations needed to support the comparable, scalable and sustainable use of wearable technologies within population health monitoring systems. This includes considerations related to data access, implementation and operational deployment and future supporting resources that may be required to facilitate adoption and use within surveillance systems.
Purpose of the consultation
WHO is seeking feedback to determine whether the draft TPP is relevant, technically sound, feasible to implement and applicable across different country contexts, including settings with limited resources and technical capacity.
WHO particularly welcomes views on:
- the strategic need for a WHO TPP and the role of WHO in this area;
- the proposed scope and intended use of the TPP;
- the proposed minimum and enhanced device specifications;
- implementation challenges associated with the adoption of wearable devices for population health monitoring;
- priorities for future WHO implementation and analytical support; and
- the overall usefulness, applicability and practicality of the TPP.
Who should respond?
WHO welcomes responses from individuals and organizations with relevant expertise, experience or interest, including:
- national and subnational health authorities;
- public health institutes, national statistical offices and surveillance programme managers;
- researchers working on physical activity and sedentary behaviour measurement;
- wearable-device manufacturers, technology developers and software developers;
- standards development organisations, regulatory bodies and conformity-assessment organisations;
- development partners and funding agencies;
- civil society organizations; and
- other stakeholders involved in public health surveillance, policy development or implementation.
WHO particularly encourages responses from low- and middle-income countries.
How will feedback be used?
WHO will be used to revise and finalize the TPP, inform the final consensus process, and identify priorities for WHO implementation guidance, analytical resources, tools and technical assistance.
The consultation closes on 6 December 2026 at 12 noon UCT. For further information, please contact letsbeactive@who.int