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 .
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Wearable Technology Physical Activity Intervention With Telephone Counseling for Mid-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
Background As adults age , their physical activity decreases and sedentary behavior increases , leading to increased risk of negative health outcomes .  Wearable electronic activity monitors have shown promise for delivering effective behavior change techniques . However , little is known about the feasibility and acceptability of non-Fitbit wearables ( Fitbit , Inc , San Francisco , California ) combined with telephone counseling among adults aged more than 55 years . Objective The purpose of our study was to determine the feasibility , acceptability , and effect on physical activity of an intervention combining a wearable physical activity monitor , tablet device , and telephone counseling  among adults aged 55 - 79 years . Methods Adults ( N=40 , aged 55 - 79 years , body mass index=25 - 35 , < 60 min of activity per week ) were r and omized to receive a 12-week intervention or to a wait list control . Intervention participants received a Jawbone Up24 monitor , a tablet with the Jawbone Up app installed , and brief weekly telephone counseling . Participants set daily and weekly step goals and used the monitor ’s idle alert to notify them when they were sedentary for more than 1 h. Interventionists provided brief counseling once per week by telephone .  Feasibility was measured using observation and study records , and acceptability was measured by self-report using vali date d items . Physical activity and sedentary time were measured using ActivPAL monitors following st and ard protocol s. Body composition was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans , and fitness was measured using a 6-min walk test . Results Participants were 61.48 years old ( SD 5.60 ) , 85 % ( 34/40 ) female , 65 % ( 26/40 ) white .  Average activity monitor wear time was 81.85 ( SD 3.73 ) of 90 days . Of the 20 Up24 monitors , 5 were reported broken and 1 lost . No related adverse events were reported . Acceptability items were rated at least 4 on a scale of 1 - 5 . Effect sizes for most outcomes were small , including stepping time per day ( d=0.35 ) , steps per day ( d=0.26 ) , sitting time per day ( d=0.21 ) , body fat ( d=0.17 ) , and weight ( d=0.33 ) . Conclusions The intervention was feasible and acceptable in this population . Effect sizes were similar to the sizes found using other wearable electronic activity monitors , indicating that when combined with telephone counseling , wearable activity monitors are a potentially effective tool for increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary behavior . Trial registration Clinical trials.gov NCT01869348 ; https:// clinical trials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01869348 ( Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6odlIolqy
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 .