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The purposes of this investigation were to examine whether pedometer-assessed physical activity (PA) in Appalachian Ohio students differed by body mass index (BMI), school level (middle school vs. high school), and gender during school days and nonschool days and whether students met the recommended PA guidelines. Participants (N = 149) were recruited from four schools in rural southeastern Ohio. PA was assessed using a sealed pedometer with a moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) timer for 7 consecutive days. Univariate 2 x 2 x 2 ANOVAs showed boys and girls did not differ greatly in PA levels in middle school, but high school girls showed a much lower PA level than high school boys and middle school girls. ANOVAs also demonstrated BMI did not affect PA levels. The frequency data revealed that Appalachian Ohio youth showed relatively low PA regardless of BMI category, school level, and gender. However, the participants appeared to be more active during school days than nonschool days. Only 17% of participants met either one or both of the recommended steps per day and MVPA time per day, respectively, during school days. Behavioral interventions and policies are necessary to increase PA for youth in this region, especially high school girls., Regularly participating in physical activity (PA) reduces the incidence of developing obesity, diabetes, and other chronic health diseases (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USD-HHS], 2008). Despite these physical [...]

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of the pedometer when walking, skipping, galloping, sliding, and hopping. One hundred-two college students were fitted with a pedometer (Walk4Life LS-7010) at mid-thigh on the right and left of the hip. Participants then performed the randomly assigned movements for the length (26 m) of a hardwood court playing surface, during which time the investigator tallied the steps with a hand counter. Each step with the lead foot elicited a tally on the counter. Participants were instructed to perform the movement at a brisk pace, to jump-stop at the end of the court, and to remain still until after the pedometer reading was recorded. Repeated measure ANOVAs using the Ronferroni technique were used to compare differences between pedometer counts and hand counts. Significant differences were evident between the hand tally counts and readings from the right and left pedometers during all five locomotor movements (P < .01). Mean error was lowest between the hand tally and the average of the right and left pedometers while walking (-1.35 [+ or -] 1.60) and hopping (-2.94 [+ or -] 2.33), and increased while sliding (-6.42 [+ or -] 4.78), galloping (-8.22 [+ or -] 4.63), and skipping (-8.30 [+ or -] 4.45). Results indicate the pedometer may not consistently register the vertical force produced by the trail foot contact, the lead foot contact, or a combination of the two while skipping, galloping, and sliding. Though the pedometer is a valid instrument when estimating physical activity levels, caution is urged when interpreting movements other than walking. KEY WORDS physical activity, physical education, exercise, locomotor movements, measurement

This study evaluated a competition-based employer-sponsored physical activity program using pedometers. City employees (N~2,600) formed teams in groups of 10 persons (N=640). The groups competed against each other over a 12-wk. period with the goal of attaining 10,000 steps per day, per person. Only teams with complete data were included in the formal evaluation. A repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated significant differences in team steps by week of the program, with post hoc comparisons indicating significant differences from baseline step counts evident during Weeks 6-8 but not at the end of the program. These data confirm that competition-based physical activity programs using pedometers may not be an effective means of increasing the long-term physical activity of employees.

Objective This study tested the effectiveness of a pedometer program for increasing physical activity levels and reducing body weight in overweight and obese mothers of young children. Design Participants' motivational readiness to exercise, exercise self-efficacy, pedometer steps, pedometer kilocalories, and anthropometrics were evaluated at week 0 and week 8; anthropometrics were reassessed at week 24. Healthful-weight mothers provided comparison data at baseline. Subjects/setting A convenience sample of 93 intervention women (body mass index [calculated as kg/[m.sup.2]] [greater than or equal to] 25) and 31 comparison women (body mass index <25) were recruited from public health clinics, community centers, and churches. Eligibility criteria included Hispanic, African-American, or white ethnicity and low income (<200% of the federal poverty index). Intervention An 8-week physical activity and dietary program was conducted. Main outcome measures Motivational readiness to exercise, exercise self-efficacy, pedometer steps, and weight loss. Statistical analyses performed Independent sample t tests, [chi square] tests, paired t tests, Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests, repeated measures analysis of variance, and Pearson and Spearman correlations. Results Mothers enhanced their motivational readiness to exercise, exercise self-efficacy, pedometer steps, and pedometer kilocalories. Reductions in body weight, percent body fat, and waist circumference also were observed. Significant correlations were found between exercise self-efficacy and exercise readiness (r=0.28, P<0.01), pedometer steps (r=0.30, P<0.01), and pedometer kilocalories (r=0.28, P<0.05). Conclusions This intervention successfully increased the physical activity levels and promoted weight loss in low-income mothers. Public health clinics may wish to incorporate elements of this intervention into their programs to improve the physical fitness of recipients. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2007.03.010

This study evaluated the effects of a self-reported pedometer-walking program on gait, lower extremity function, and Body Mass Index for 33 obese women, ages 31-65 years (M = 48.0, SD = 8.0) and whose initial average Body Mass Index was 40.30 [+ or -] 9.60 kg/[m.sup.2]. During the 12-mo. intervention participants wore pedometers and reported the number of daffy steps walked. Body Mass Index, three gait parameters, steps/day, and lower extremity function were taken over 3-mo. intervals. All participants increased in gait velocity, % single-leg support, and lower extremity function, and decreased in Body Mass Index over time. Those whose steps/day increased by 2,000 over 6 mo. had significantly faster velocities and longer step lengths than those whose steps/day did not increase. The 1-yr. walking program stimulated changes in gait, Body Mass Index, and lower extremity function for these obese women. Ultimately, these changes may reduce the risk of falls for this group of women.

Objectives. We evaluated the association between television viewing and pedometer-determined physical activity among predominantly racial/ethnic minority residents of low-income housing in metropolitan Boston in 2005. Methods. We used mixed models to analyze the association between reported hours of television viewing and pedometer-determined steps per day among 486 adults. We also examined whether television viewing was associated with the achievement of 10000 steps per day. Results. There was a mean 3.6 hours of average daily television watching. In multivariable analyses, each hour of television viewing on an average day was associated with 144 (95% confidence interval [CI] =-276, -12) fewer steps per day and a decreased likelihood of accumulating 10000 steps per day (odds ratio [OR]=0.84; 95% CI=0.71, 0.99). Weekday and weekend television viewing were each also associated with fewer steps per day. Conclusions. Average daily television viewing was associated with reductions in total pedometer-determined physical activity levels (approximately 520 steps per day) in this lower-income sample. As part of a comprehensive physical activity promotion plan, recommendations to reduce television viewing should be made. doi:10.2105/AJ PH.2005.080580

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of using a pedometer on time spent walking, in sedentary and overweight adults with type 2 diabetes participating in [...]

Background: Minimal contact pedometer-based interventions are gaining in popularity as a cost-effective method of promoting physical activity. The experiences of women in these interventions, however, have not been adequately studied. Purpose: This study used focus groups to explore women's experiences in a minimal contact pedometer-based intervention. Methods: Participants were women aged 31 to 51 years who completed a 6-week minimal contact pedometer-based intervention. Before the intervention, all participants were inactive or irregularly active. For the intervention, participants wore pedometers, completed weekly logs of daily steps taken, created physical activity goals, and received weekly emails. Email messages contained strategies for increasing physical activity and served as reminders to wear the pedometer and submit the step logs. After the intervention, participants were invited to attend focus groups to discuss their experiences in the intervention. A generic qualitative research approach was used to analyze the data. Results: Wearing the pedometer helped participants set goals and motivated them to increase their physical activity. Submitting step logs made them accountable. They wanted more innovative tips in the emails for increasing physical activity. Discussion: Our results suggest that the effectiveness of minimalcontact interventions may be enhanced by including pedometers, step logs, and email reminders. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HA WORTH. E-mail address: Website: [c] 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.] KEYWORDS. Exercise, step counters, health promotion, qualitative methods

Background Pedometers can increase walking and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels, but their effectiveness with or without support has not been rigorously evaluated. We assessed the effectiveness of a pedometer-based walking intervention in predominantly inactive adults, delivered by post or through primary care nurse-supported physical activity (PA) consultations. Methods and Findings A parallel three-arm cluster randomised trial was randomised by household, with 12-mo follow-up, in seven London, United Kingdom, primary care practices. Eleven thousand fifteen randomly selected patients aged 45-75 y without PA contraindications were invited. Five hundred forty-eight self-reporting achieving PA guidelines were excluded. One thousand twenty-three people from 922 households were randomised between 2012-2013 to one of the following groups: usual care (n = 338); postal pedometer intervention (n = 339); and nurse-supported pedometer intervention (n = 346). Of these, 956 participants (93%) provided outcome data (usual care n = 323, postal n = 312, nurse-supported n = 321). Both intervention groups received pedometers, 12-wk walking programmes, and PA diaries. The nurse group was offered three PA consultations. Primary and main secondary outcomes were changes from baseline to 12 mo in average daily step-counts and time in MVPA (in [greater than or equal to]10-min bouts), respectively, measured objectively by accelerometry. Only statisticians were masked to group. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. Average baseline daily step-count was 7,479 (standard deviation [s.d.] 2,671), and average time in MVPA bouts was 94 (s.d. 102) min/wk. At 12 mo, mean steps/d, with s.d. in parentheses, were as follows: control 7,246 (2,671); postal 8,010 (2,922); and nurse support 8,131 (3,228). PA increased in both intervention groups compared with the control group; additional steps/d were 642 for postal (95% CI 329-955) and 677 for nurse support (95% CI 365-989); additional MVPA in bouts (min/wk) were 33 for postal (95% CI 17-49) and 35 for nurse support (95% CI 19-51). There were no significant differences between the two interventions at 12 mo. The 10% (1,023/10,467) recruitment rate was a study limitation. Conclusions A primary care pedometer-based walking intervention in predominantly inactive 45- to 75-y-olds increased step-counts by about one-tenth and time in MVPA in bouts by about one-third. Nurse and postal delivery achieved similar 12-mo PA outcomes. A primary care pedometer intervention delivered by post or with minimal support could help address the public health physical inactivity challenge. Clinical Trial Registration isrctn.com ISRCTN98538934., Author(s): Tess Harris 1,*, Sally M. Kerry 2, Elizabeth S. Limb 1, Christina R. Victor 3, Steve Iliffe 4, Michael Ussher 1, Peter H. Whincup 1, Ulf Ekelund 5,6, Julia [...]