People are buying the Apple Watch for health reasons and they're becoming healthier as a result.
That's according to a new survey from Wristly (a firm devoted to researching and promoting the Apple Watch).
The poll of a large online "panel" of more than 1,500 Apple Watch owners showed that most had bought the watch at least in part because of its fitness components.
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However, only 12 percent said fitness was the primary reason for the purchase, while 48 percent said it was one of the main reasons and 30 percent said it was "somewhat important."
Only 10 percent didn't consider fitness at all in their purchase.
Even better, most owners report that the watch has had some effect on their health or fitness habits. A quarter said it led to big changes, while 58 percent said it led to some changes. Only 17 percent reported no change as a result of the watch.
And yet, only 64 percent reported exercising more than in the past.
So how is the Apple Watch making those who aren't hitting the gym more often any healthier?
The answer lies in the watch's "activity rings," which encourage users to move throughout the day by setting certain benchmarks for time spent standing, walking or engaging in more intense exercise. The "Stand Up" feature, for instance, sends users an hourly alert reminding them to spend several minutes standing.
While only 6 percent said they can't go to sleep until they accomplish their activity rings, 38 percent say they complete their activity rings almost every day and 42 percent said they accomplish them several times a week. Only 10 percent said they hardly ever complete them.
The majority of Apple Watch users are pushing themselves by upping the demands of their activity rings.
Among those polled, less than a third had not updated their activity goals more than once.
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