Physical Activity and Leisure-time Study (PALS)
Condition: Physical Activity; Weight
Intervention: TV commercial stepping; 30-min walk
Intervention description: Participants were instructed to stand and "briskly" step in place, or "briskly" walk continuously around the room/house for the duration of each commercial break during at least 90 min of TV programming on at least 5 days/week. Both conditions will receive an ankle mounted Omron pedometer, so they were able to track their steps each day. Participants were not given instructions concerning diet modification or modifying TV viewing time during a 6 month behavioral physical activity intervention; Participants were instructed to use "brisk" walking (at least 30 min/day in bouts of at least 10 min) at least 5 days/week. Both conditions will receive an ankle mounted Omron pedometer, so they were able to track their steps each day. Participants were not given instructions concerning diet modification or modifying TV viewing time during a 6 month behavioral physical activity intervention
Phase: Phase 1
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Enrollment: 58.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 25 Years
Maximum age: 65 Years
Healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Keywords: Physical activity intervention; walking; TV; sedentary

Summary:

      Physical inactivity is a major public health problem and a primary contributing factor to the
      obesity epidemic. While most Americans do not meet the physical activity (PA) guidelines (30
      min/day, 5 day/wk), they do report watching several hours of TV each day, and frequently site
      "lack of time" as a barrier for engaging in PA. The Physical Activity and Leisure-time Study
      examines an approach convert sedentary TV watching into active TV watching time by having
      adults step in place during commercials (TV commercial stepping).
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          -  25 to 65 years of age

          -  BMI between 25 and 45 kg/m2

          -  watch ≥14 hours per week of TV

          -  ability to follow instructions and record data

          -  ability to walk 1/4 mile without stopping

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  history of myocardial infraction, angina, stroke, heart failure, or uncontrolled
             cardiac arrhythmias

          -  a resting blood pressure greater than 180 mm Hg systolic and/or 100 mm Hg diastolic

          -  other physical or medical limitations for engaging in physical activity

          -  no television in the home

          -  baseline physical activity level exceeding 7,499 steps per day as determined by the
             Omron pedometer

          -  currently participating in a program to increase PA

          -  intended to move outside the East Tennessee area within the time frame of the
             intervention

          -  were pregnant, lactating, less than 6 months post-partum, or planned to become
             pregnant during the time frame of the intervention

          -  unwilling to attend group intervention meetings, assessments or to complete an
             activity diary for the duration of the study.