CONCLUSIONS Utilizing a consumer-based wearable activity tracker as either the primary component of an intervention or as part of a broader physical activity intervention has the potential to increase physical activity participation .
BACKGROUND The range of benefits associated with regular physical activity participation is irrefutable .
Despite the well-known benefits , physical inactivity remains one of the major contributing factors to ill-health throughout industrialized countries .
Traditional lifestyle interventions such as group education or telephone counseling are effective at increasing physical activity participation ; however , physical activity levels tend to decline over time .
Consumer-based wearable activity trackers that allow users to objective ly monitor activity levels are now widely available and may offer an alternative method for assisting individuals to remain physically active .
OBJECTIVE This review aim ed to determine the effects of interventions utilizing consumer-based wearable activity trackers on physical activity participation and sedentary behavior when compared with interventions that do not utilize activity tracker feedback .
“Not just another walking program”: Everyday Activity Supports You (EASY) model—a randomized pilot study for a parallel randomized controlled trial
Background Maintaining physical activity is an important goal with positive health benefits , yet many people spend most of their day sitting . Our Everyday Activity Supports You ( EASY ) model aims to encourage movement through daily activities and utilitarian walking . The primary objective of this phase was to test study feasibility ( recruitment and retention rates ) for the EASY model . Methods This 6-month study took place in Vancouver , Canada , from May to December 2013 , with data analyses in February 2014 . Participants were healthy , inactive , community-dwelling women aged 55–70 years . We recruited through advertisements in local community newspapers and r and omized participants using a remote web service . The model included the following : group-based education and social support , individualized physical activity prescription ( called Activity 4 - 1 - 1 ) , and use of a Fitbit activity monitor . The control group received health-related information only . The main outcome measures were descriptions of study feasibility ( recruitment and retention rates ) . We also collected information on activity patterns ( ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers ) and health-related outcomes such as body composition ( height and weight using st and ard techniques ) , blood pressure ( automatic blood pressure monitor ) , and psychosocial variables ( question naires ) . Results We advertised in local community newspapers to recruit participants . Over 3 weeks , 82 participants telephoned ; following screening , 68 % ( 56/82 ) met the inclusion criteria and 45 % ( 25/56 ) were r and omized by remote web-based allocation . This included 13 participants in the intervention group and 12 participants in the control group ( education ) . At 6 months , 12/13 ( 92 % ) intervention and 8/12 ( 67 % ) control participants completed the final assessment . Controlling for baseline values , the intervention group had an average of 2,080 [ 95 % confidence intervals ( CIs ) 704 , 4,918 ] more steps/day at 6 months compared with the control group . There was an average between group difference in weight loss of −4.3 [ 95 % CI −6.22 , −2.40 ] kg and reduction in diastolic blood pressure of −8.54 [ 95 % CI −16.89 , −0.198 ] mmHg , in favor of EASY . Conclusions The EASY pilot study was feasible to deliver ; there was an increase in physical activity and reduction in weight and blood pressure for intervention participants at 6 months . Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov identifier :
CONCLUSIONS Utilizing a consumer-based wearable activity tracker as either the primary component of an intervention or as part of a broader physical activity intervention has the potential to increase physical activity participation .
BACKGROUND The range of benefits associated with regular physical activity participation is irrefutable .
Despite the well-known benefits , physical inactivity remains one of the major contributing factors to ill-health throughout industrialized countries .
Traditional lifestyle interventions such as group education or telephone counseling are effective at increasing physical activity participation ; however , physical activity levels tend to decline over time .
Consumer-based wearable activity trackers that allow users to objective ly monitor activity levels are now widely available and may offer an alternative method for assisting individuals to remain physically active .
OBJECTIVE This review aim ed to determine the effects of interventions utilizing consumer-based wearable activity trackers on physical activity participation and sedentary behavior when compared with interventions that do not utilize activity tracker feedback .