Improving Physical Activity and Body Composition in a Medical Workplace Using Brief Goal Setting.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of a wearable activity tracker and brief feedback in the workplace to motivate employees to improve activity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 135 adult participants were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: control group (blinded to their step activity), intervention group (received counseling based on their step count), or no step-tracking device group. Participants were recruited from June 27, 2016, through February 21, 2018.

RESULTS

Most of the 135 participants were women (84%), with a mean ± SD age of 42.6±10.1 years. Most participants (96%) completed 11 of the 12 weeks of step counts. Comparing treatment groups at week 12 (end of treatment), the intervention group (vs the control group) had significantly more steps (644.8; <.01), had an 11.1% increase in step count from baseline (<.01), was more likely to achieve goal (odds ratio=1.73; =.02), increased distance traveled per week (0.46 miles; <.01) and calories burned (90.6; <.01), and had a decrease in some bioelectrical impedance measurements over time, including a greater loss in body fat mass (-0.90 kg; =.01), percentage fat (-0.96; <.01), and visceral fat level (-0.60; <.01). Finally, the intervention group indicated significantly greater satisfaction with their assigned randomization (89% vs 77%; =.01) and greater confidence in the effectiveness of their activity tracker (<.01).

CONCLUSION

Brief counseling accompanied by use of a step-counting device can improve workplace activity, which, in turn, can increase steps and decrease body fat, including visceral fat.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02794727.