Abstract
BackgroundLow levels of physical activity are a major public health concern, and interventions to promote physical activity have had limited success. Whether or not personalised feedback about physical activity following objective measurement motivates behaviour change has yet to be rigorously examined.Methods And Findings: In a parallel group, open randomised controlled trial, 466 healthy adults aged 32 to 54 years were recruited from the ongoing population-based Fenland Study (Cambridgeshire, UK). Participants were randomised to receive either no feedback until the end of the trial (control group, n=120) or one of three different types of feedback: simple, visual, or contextualised (intervention groups, n=346). The primary outcome was physical activity (physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) in kJ/kg/day and average body acceleration (ACC) in m/s2) measured objectively using a combined heart rate monitor and accelerometer (Actiheart®). The main secondary outcomes included self-reported physical activity, intention to increase physical activity, and awareness of physical activity (the agreement between self-rated and objectively measured physical activity). At 8 weeks, 391 (83.9%) participants had complete physical activity data. The intervention had no effect on objectively measured physical activity (PAEE: β=-0.92, 95% CI=-3.50 to 1.66, p=0.48 and ACC: β=0.01, 95% CI=-0.00 to 0.02, p=0.21), self-reported physical activity (β=-0.39, 95% CI=-1.59 to 0.81), or intention to increase physical activity (β=-0.05, 95% CI=-0.22 to 0.11). However, it was associated with an increase in awareness of physical activity (OR=1.74, 95% CI=1.05 to 2.89). Results did not differ according to the type of feedback.ConclusionsPersonalised feedback about physical activity following objective measurement increased awareness but did not result in changes in physical activity in the short term. Measurement and feedback may have a role in promoting behaviour change but are ineffective on their own.Trial RegistrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN92551397 http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN92551397
Highlights
Low levels of physical activity are independently associated with increased risk of mortality, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers [1,2]
When effects have been observed, they have tended to be small and short-term [7,8,9,10]. This may be due in part to the fact that many sedentary individuals are unaware that their current physical activity level is inadequate [11,12,13,14], and they may not perceive a need to change their behaviour
Among middle-aged men and women who underwent objective measurement of physical activity, the provision of personalised feedback about physical activity was not associated with changes in physical activity after eight weeks
Summary
Low levels of physical activity are independently associated with increased risk of mortality, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers [1,2]. Government sponsored programs have been developed to inform the public about the health benefits of regular physical activity [3,4], and family doctors in the UK and elsewhere have been called on to assess and address their patients’ physical inactivity [5] In spite of these efforts, only 34% of UK adults report currently achieving the recommendation of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day on at least 5 days of the week. Conclusions: Personalised feedback about physical activity following objective measurement increased awareness but did not result in changes in physical activity in the short term. Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN92551397 http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN92551397
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