Empowering sedentary adults to reduce sedentary behaviour: Success with a technology-based physical activity monitor

Abstract

Background: In many societies, increased attention is being paid todeveloppotential interventionmethods that focusonreducing sedentary time and increasing physical activity levels. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a 4-week intervention in which an online personal activitymonitor (Gruve-TechnologiesTM) was used to reduce sedentary behaviour among sedentary adults during free-living activities. The monitor is a tri-axial accelerometer system that tracks time spent on daily activities via a wearable device and an accompanying online service. The device monitors a participant’s daily physical activity at 20Hz and stores the minute data on the device for uploading later to the interactive online software. These data subsequently provide the user with an easy-to-understand visualization of daily activity patterns. Goalsetting features are activated alongside simple graphs and charts to enhance the self-monitoring of energy expenditure. An indicator (a halo bar) on top of the device also highlights the users’ progress towards their daily goal. When palpated throughout the day, the indicator bar provides a light-emitting diode colour corresponding to the user’s progress towards their daily activity goal. Method: Eighteen sedentary adults (12 men, 6 women, mean age± SD, 29±4.0 year) volunteers were recruited to participate in the study. Time spent in sedentary and light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity and energy expenditure were assessed during waking hours using the monitor at baseline and post-intervention. Results: A significant decrease of 33% (3.1h/day) was found between the time spent in sedentary activities measured at baseline (9.4±1.1h/day) and at the end of the 4-week intervention (6.3±0.8h/day (p<0.001). Between baseline and the end of the 4-week intervention, significant increases (p<0.001) were found in the amount of time spent on light-intensity (45% [2.6h/day]), moderate-intensity (33% [1h/day]), and energy expenditure (47% [216.7 kcal/day]). A significant increase (p<0.05) was found in the amount of time spent on vigorous-intensity physical activity (39% [0.16h/day]). Discussion: This lifestyle study involving sedentary adults suggests that, when engaging with the online personal activity monitor, individuals decreased (33%) the amount of time they spent in sedentary activities. Such a large reduction in the amount of time spent in sedentary activities has not been previously published. Additionally, participants increased their daily lightand moderate-intensity physical activity and energy expenditure. These results may be considered a step toward development of a meaningfully positive active lifestyle.