By 2018 an estimated 75.7 million consumer health and fitness devices with integrated wireless connectivity will ship, up from 23 million such devices in 2011, according to a recent report from IHS Technology. The research firms points out that Bluetooth Smart-connected devices are the most popular, but devices that make use of the fitness and health-focused ANT standard also have a foothold.

The firm also expects that the semiconductors that provide the wireless connectivity for health and fitness devices will have "solid double-digit growth" this year and over the course of the next few.

"Shipments this year for wireless semiconductors in health and fitness will reach a projected 61.2 million units, up 11 percent from 55.0 million in 2013. The expected strong expansion for this year continues the robust growth of 2012 and 2013. And the market shows little signs of slowing, with shipments in 2018 climbing to 95.78 million units," the firm wrote in a recent press release.

IHS principal analyst Lee Ratliff noted in a written statement that mobility and power consumption are key for health devices.

“Because most health and fitness devices are mobile, wireless connectivity is important,” Ratliff said in a statement. “And because these wireless mobile devices are in most cases also wearable and thus require a small form-factor, they cannot be power hogs and must support low-energy consumption to have the best chance of succeeding in the consumer market.”