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 .
Physical Activity Enhancement to a Behavioral Weight Loss Program for Severely Obese Individuals: A Preliminary Investigation
Severe obesity is characterized by low physical activity ( PA ) and interventions to enhance PA are needed . Participants ( 45.0 ± 3.9 kg/m2 ) were r and omized to a 6-month st and ard behavioral weight loss program ( SBWL ; n = 14 ) or SBWL+technology ( SBWL+TECH ; n = 15 ) . Both groups received identical SBWL treatment and SBWL+TECH also received a wearable PA monitor , providing “ real-time ” feedback , and website access to monitor energy balance . 6-month retention was similar between groups ( SBWL : 12/13 versus SBWL+TECH : 11/14 completers ; P = 0.19 ) and adherence to wearing the armb and was excellent ( 91.3 % of days ) . Although differences in PA between groups did not meet conventional thresholds of significance , SBWL+TECH increased their moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA by 132.9 ± 216.8 min/week , which was 3 times greater than SBWL ( 44.8 ± 124.3 min/week ; P = 0.27 ; Cohen 's d = 0.50 ) . There was a trend for SBWL+TECH to self-monitor for a greater proportion of days compared to SBWL ( 86.2 ± 21.4 % versus 71.5 ± 19.4 % ; P = 0.098 ; Cohen 's d = 0.72 ) . The difference in weight loss between groups was modest ( SBWL+TECH : −10.0 ± 7.1 % versus SBWL : −7.8 ± 6.7 % ; P = 0.46 ) . These preliminary findings suggest that PA monitors may be one strategy for increasing PA among the severely obese . Larger , long-term trials are needed
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 .