Step count not updated when waking phone (Android)

When waking the phone and opening the step counting app, it seems that the actual device step count is not often reflected unless the user resumes taking steps while the phone and app remain active. Additionally, sometimes it seems that steps are not being counted at all when the phone is suspended.

For example, this morning I walked for 30 minutes with my phone sleeping in my pocket. When I turned my phone on and opened the step counting app, I did not see the steps from my walk reflected.