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 .
Preventing weight gain in African American breast cancer survivors using smart scales and activity trackers: a randomized controlled pilot study
Purpose This study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of two 6-month , self-regulation interventions that focused on daily self-weighing ( DSW ) and used objective monitoring and tailored feedback about weight ( ±activity ) , to prevent weight gain among African American breast cancer survivors . Methods Participants ( n = 35 ) were r and omized to an intervention + activity monitoring ( INT+ ) , intervention ( INT ) , or control ( CON ) group . Interventions included a wireless scale ( ±activity tracker ) that transmitted objective data to a mobile app/website , emailed lessons , and tailored feedback based on objective weight ( ±activity data ) . Participants completed in-person and online assessment s at baseline , 3 months , and 6 months . Results Ninety-four percent of participants completed assessment s at 3 months , and 97 % at 6 months . Median ( IQR ) weight change after 6 months was −0.9 % ( −4.4–0.1 ) in the INT+ ( p = 0.075 ; p = 0.067 vs. CON ) and −0.2 % ( −4.2–1.3 ) in the INT groups ( p = 0.463 ; p = 0.357 vs. CON ) , versus a 0.2 % ( −0.7–1.7 ) gain in the CON group . The proportion of INT+ , INT , and CON participants that were at or below baseline weight was 72.7 , 53.8 , and 45.5 % , respectively ( effect sizes d = 0.64 , d = 0.18 ) . Most INT+ participants weighed and wore trackers ≥5 days/week ( INT+ , 81.9 % vs. INT , 38.5 % vs. CON , 0 % ; p < 0.0005 ; INT+ , 72.7 % ) . Both intervention groups perceived DSW as positive , and 100 % would recommend the program to other breast cancer survivors . Conclusion An intervention focused on DSW as a self-monitoring strategy shows promise for preventing weight gain in breast cancer survivors . Implication s for cancer survivorsDaily self-monitoring of weight and activity may be a feasible and accessible approach to promote weight gain prevention in breast cancer survivors . Clinical trial registration Clinical Trials.gov ,
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 .