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 .
Design and baseline characteristics of participants in the Enhancing Physical Activity and Reducing Obesity through Smartcare and Financial Incentives (EPAROSFI): A pilot randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND An activity tracker combined with a smartphone application ( smartcare ) may help people track and receive feedback on their own activities . However , activity trackers themselves generally fail to drive long-term sustained engagement for a majority of users . One potential strategy for increasing the effectiveness of smartcare is through the use of incentives . The purpose of this pilot r and omized trial is to test the feasibility of our intervention and to assess the extent to which smartcare with or without financial incentives can increase physical activity levels and reduce weight over a 12-week period . METHODS / DESIGN This study employs a three-arm , open-label r and omized controlled trial design : control ( st and ard basic education ) , smartcare , and smartcare plus financial incentives .  Male university students with body mass index ≥ 27 are enrolled . Our primary and secondary endpoints are the amount of weight loss and the level of physical activity respectively . The weight loss goal is 3 % of baseline at week 4 , 5 % at week 8 , and 7 % at week 12 . The daily physical activity goal was individualized according to the participants ' weight . Process incentives are accumulated when participants met daily physical activity goals , and outcome incentives are provided when they met weight reduction goals . DISCUSSION Given the global increase in physical inactivity and obesity , there is a growing need for effective , scalable , and affordable health promotion strategies . Our proof-of-concept study will provide the evidence for the combination of rising health promotion technology of activity trackers and smartphone applications with the modern concept of behavioral economics using financial incentives
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 .