Inaccurate health steps

I walked a route for 27 minutes and the App counted ~3000 steps, which is accurate. When I came back the same route, the App counted 1100 steps. This is the 3rd day in a row that I am seeing this. I use these steps to qualify for a health benefit from my insurance company. Is there a reason for miscounting as it is? Is it because I listen to a show via cellular as I walk? Yesterday the counts were off for every 10 minutes logged. It was off from the start. Same with Tuesday. Both days I was only credited for a little more than half of my steps per ten minutes logged.