title: Association between physical activity (PA) guidelines and body composition variables in middle-aged and older women. The effect of a pedometer-based community walking intervention "Walking for Wellbeing in the West" on physical activity levels and health outcomes: a 12-week randomized controlled trial Does physical activity counselling enhance the effects of a pedometer-based intervention over the long-term: 12-month findings from the Walking for Wellbeing in the west study Predicting Change in Physical Activity: a Longitudinal Investigation Among Weight-Concerned College Women The Influence of the Local Neighbourhood Environment on Walking Levels during the Walking for Wellbeing in the West Pedometer-Based Community Intervention Safe To Walk? Neighborhood Safety and Physical Activity Among Public Housing Residents Predicting students' physical activity and health-related well-being: a prospective cross-domain investigation of motivation across school physical education and exercise settings. Canadian children's and youth's pedometer-determined steps/day, parent-reported TV watching time, and overweight/obesity: The CANPLAY Surveillance Study Comparative Effectiveness of Two Walking Interventions on Participation, Step Counts, and Health Weekday-weekend patterns of physical activity and screen time in parents and their pre-schoolers Do walking strategies to increase physical activity reduce reported sitting in workplaces: a randomized control trial Do low step count goals inhibit walking behavior: a randomized controlled study Contextual factors related to physical activity during daily middle school physical education. The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions. Effects of integrating pedometers, parental materials, and E-mail support within an extracurricular school sport intervention. Reduction in pedometer-determined physical activity in the adult Danish population from 2007 to 2012 The effect of a pedometer-based physical activity intervention on sitting time. The nuts and bolts of PROSPERO: an international prospective register of systematic reviews Walking towards health in a university community: a feasibility study. Psychosocial Determinants of Physical Activity in Children Attending Afterschool Programs: A Path Analysis Do school-based physical activity interventions increase or reduce inequalities in health? Testing self-regulation interventions to increase walking using factorial randomized N-of-1 trials. A randomized controlled trial of continuous activity, short bouts, and a 10,000 step guideline in inactive adults. Change in work day step counts, wellbeing and job performance in Catalan university employees: a randomised controlled trial A classroom-based physical activity intervention for urban kindergarten and first-grade students: a feasibility study. Sociodemographic determinants of pedometer-determined physical activity among Japanese adults.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between volume and frequency of moderate-intensity PA and step-based recommendations and individual body composition variables . Our cohort included 167 healthy ambulatory women ( mean age 62.8 ± 4.8 years ; body mass index [ BMI ] 27.3 ± 4.2 kg/m(2 ) ) who carried out daily activities while wearing the ActiGraph GT1 M accelerometer over a seven day period .  Measurements of BMI , body fat mass index ( BFMI ) , fat-free mass index ( FFMI ) , waist-hip ratio ( WHR ) and visceral fat area ( VFA ) were obtained by the InBody 720 multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis ( MFBIA ) device . The significant relationship ( r(s)=0.66 ; p<0.05 ) was found between moderate PA and steps per day . Moderate PA ( r(2)=0.03 - 0.06 ) and steps per day ( r(2)=0.05 - 0.20 ) were significantly associated with observed body composition parameters . Women spending > 300 min/week in moderate PA showed significantly lower values of BFMI ( p=0.02 ) than those who spent 150 - 300 min/week . Carrying out moderate PA for 30 min 5 days a week was significantly associated with lower BMI ( p=0.04 ; η(2)=0.02 ) , BFMI ( p=0.02 ; η(2)=0.03 ) and VFA ( p=0.03 ; η(2)=0.03 ) . In addition , higher amounts of daily steps were significantly associated with lower BMI ( p=0.00 ; η(2)=0.16 ) , BFMI ( p=0.00 ; η(2)=0.21 ) , VFA ( p=0.00 ; η(2)=0.20 ) and WHR ( p=0.00 ; η(2)=0.13 ) . A clear association was found between the generally recommended PA guidelines and body composition variables for the women examined in this study . However , the concept of 10,000 steps/day appears to be the strongest predictor of health-related body composition values Background Recent systematic review s have suggested that pedometers may be effective motivational tools to promote walking . However , studies tend to be of a relatively short duration , with small clinical based sample s. Further research is required to demonstrate their effectiveness in adequately powered , community based studies . Objective Using a r and omized controlled trial design , this study assessed the impact of a 12-week graduated pedometer-based walking intervention on daily step-counts , self-reported physical activity and health outcomes in a Scottish community sample not meeting current physical activity recommendations . MethodS ixty-three women and 16 men ( 49.2 years ± 8.8 ) were r and omly assigned to either an intervention ( physical activity consultation and 12-week pedometer-based walking program ) or control ( no action ) group . Measures for step-counts , 7-day physical activity recall , affect , quality of life ( n = 79 ) , body mass , BMI , % body fat , waist and hip circumference ( n = 76 ) , systolic/diastolic blood pressure , total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol ( n = 66 ) were taken at baseline and week 12 . Analyses were performed on an intention to treat basis using 2-way mixed factorial analyses of variance for parametric data and Mann Whitney and Wilcoxon tests for non-parametric data . Results Significant increases were found in the intervention group for step-counts ( p < .001 ) , time spent in leisure walking ( p = .02 ) and positive affect ( p = .027 ) . Significant decreases were found in this group for time spent in weekday ( p = .003 ) , weekend ( p = .001 ) and total sitting ( p = .001 ) with no corresponding changes in the control group . No significant changes in any other health outcomes were found in either group . In comparison with the control group at week 12 , the intervention group reported a significantly greater number of minutes spent in leisure time ( p = .008 ) , occupational ( p = .045 ) and total walking ( p = .03 ) , and significantly fewer minutes in time spent in weekend ( p = .003 ) and total sitting ( p = .022 ) . Conclusion A pedometer-based walking program , incorporating a physical activity consultation , is effective in promoting walking and improving positive affect over 12 weeks in community based individuals . The discussion examines possible explanations for the lack of significant changes in health outcomes . Continued follow-up of this study will examine adherence to the intervention and possible result ing effects on health outcomes Background Pedometers provide a simple , cost effective means of motivating individuals to increase walking yet few studies have considered if short term changes in walking behaviour can be maintained in the long-term . The role of physical activity consultations in such interventions is unclear . The purpose of this study was to assess the sustainability of pedometer-based interventions and empirically examine the role of physical activity consultations using long-term results of a community-based walking study . Methods 79 low active Scottish men and women ( 63 women and 16 men ) from the Walking for Wellbeing in the West intervention study were r and omly assigned to receive either : Group 1 ; pedometer-based walking programme plus physical activity consultations or Group 2 ; pedometer-based walking programme and minimal advice .  Step counts ( Omron HJ-109E Step-O-Meter pedometer ) , 7 day recall of physical activity ( IPAQ long ) , mood ( PANAS ) and quality of life ( EuroQol EQ-5D ) were assessed pre-intervention and 12 , 24 and 48 weeks after receiving the intervention . Body mass , body mass index and waist and hip circumference were assessed pre-intervention and 12 and 24 weeks after receiving the intervention . Analyses were performed on an intention to treat basis ( baseline value carried forward for missing data ) using mixed-factorial ANOVAs and follow-up t-tests . Results A significant main effect of time ( p < 0.001 ) was found for step-counts attributable to significant increases in steps/day between : pre-intervention ( M = 6941 , SD = 3047 ) and 12 weeks ( M = 9327 , SD = 4136 ) , t(78 ) = - 6.52 , p < 0.001 , d = 0.66 ; pre-intervention and 24 weeks ( M = 8804 , SD = 4145 ) , t(78 ) = - 4.82 , p < 0.001 , d = 0.52 ; and pre-intervention and 48 weeks ( M = 8450 , SD = 3855 ) , t(78 ) = - 4.15 , p < 0.001 , d = 0.44 . Significant effects were found for several variables of self-reported physical activity , mood and quality of life and are discussed . No other significant effects in health related outcomes were found . Conclusion Both interventions successfully increased and maintained step counts over 12 months . Physical activity consultations may encourage individuals to be active in other ways beyond walking and to reduce sitting time . Trial Registration NumberCurrent Controlled Trials Ltd IS RCT Background Engaging in regular physical activity ( PA ) is critical for health , and adopting a consistent PA routine early in life is associated with greater PA over the lifespan . College women with weight concerns are at risk for weight gain , which may be prevented with regular PA . However , little is known about changes in PA engagement in this at-risk group . Purpose Using an outcome expectancy framework , this study used a prospect i ve longitudinal design to examine changes in PA during the first 2 years of college . We tested for concurrent and prospect i ve within-person relations between body satisfaction/perceived eating behavior and  PA  to determine when weight-concerned college women may increase or decrease PA . Methods Women who reported weight concerns at the start of college ( n = 294 ) completed five assessment s over 2 years , including measured weight , body/eating experiences , and 4 days of pedometer steps ( per assessment ) . Multilevel models addressed the result ing nested data structure ( days within assessment s within participants ) . Results Over 2 years , within-person change accounted for 65 % of PA variability ( ICC = 0.35 ) . PA  was greatest at ( and subsequent to ) times when body satisfaction was lower , and when disinhibited eating and hedonic hunger were higher , than an individual ’s average ( ps < 0.05 ) . These changes were associated with 1–3 % of the recommended daily step totals . Conclusions Weight-conscious college women  show greater PA after negative eating and weight experiences . As these experiences change over time , health promotion efforts should help college women identify alternative , positive motivators for PA , which could facilitate consistent PA engagement We investigated the relationship between  walking levels  and the local neighbourhood physical environment during the Walking for Wellbeing in the West ( WWW ) r and omised pedometer-based community intervention .  Walking activity was recorded as step counts at baseline ( n = 76 ) , and at 3 months ( n = 57 ) , 6 months ( n = 54 ) , and 12 months ( n = 45 ) post-intervention . Objective physical environment data were obtained from GIS data sets and street surveys conducted using the SWAT audit tool . Sixty-nine environment variables were reduced to eight environment factors using principal axis factoring , and the relationship between environment factors and ( i ) step counts , and ( ii ) the change in step counts relative to baseline , was examined using hierarchical multiple linear regression , controlling for age , gender , income , and deprivation . Five environment factors were significant predictors of step counts , but none were significant predictors of the change in step counts relative to baseline . None of the demographic variables included in the analysis were significant predictors at any stage of the study . Total variance explained by the environment ranged from 6 % ( P < 0.05 ) to 34 % ( P < 0.01 ) , with lowest levels during the initial stages of the study . The physical environment appears to have influenced walking levels during the WWW intervention , and to have contributed to the maintenance of walking levels post-intervention Background Despite its health benefits , physical inactivity is pervasive , particularly among those living in lower-income urban communities . In such setting s , neighborhood safety may impact willingness to be regularly physically active . We examined the association of perceived neighborhood safety with pedometer-determined physical activity and physical activity self-efficacy . Methods and Findings Participants were 1,180 predominantly racial/ethnic minority adults recruited from 12 urban low-income housing complexes in metropolitan Boston . Participants completed a 5-d pedometer data - collection protocol and self-reported their perceptions of neighborhood safety and self-efficacy ( i.e. , confidence in the ability to be physically active ) . Gender-stratified bivariate and multivariable r and om effects models were estimated to account for within-site clustering . Most participants reported feeling safe during the day , while just over one-third ( 36 % ) felt safe at night . We found no association between daytime safety reports and physical activity among both men and women . There was also no association between night-time safety reports and physical activity among men ( p = 0.23 ) but women who reported feeling unsafe ( versus safe ) at night showed significantly fewer steps per day ( 4,302 versus 5,178 , p = 0.01 ) . Perceiving one 's neighborhood as unsafe during the day was associated with significantly lower odds of having high physical activity self-efficacy among both men ( OR 0.40 , p = 0.01 ) and women ( OR 0.68 , p = 0.02 ) . Conclusions Residing in a neighborhood that is perceived to be unsafe at night is a barrier to regular physical activity among individuals , especially women , living in urban low-income housing . Feeling unsafe may also diminish confidence in the ability to be more physically active . Both of these factors may limit the effectiveness of physical activity promotion strategies delivered in similar setting A three-wave prospect i ve design was used to assess a model of motivation guided by self-determination theory ( Ryan & Deci , 2008 ) spanning the context s of  school physical education ( PE ) and exercise .  The outcome variables examined were health-related quality of life ( HRQoL ) , physical self-concept ( PSC ) , and 4 days of objective ly assessed estimates of activity . Secondary school students ( n = 494 ) completed question naires at three separate time points and were familiarized with how to use a sealed pedometer . Results of structural equation modeling supported a model in which perceptions of autonomy support from a PE teacher positively predicted PE-related need satisfaction ( autonomy , competence , and relatedness ) . Competence predicted PSC , whereas relatedness predicted HRQoL. Autonomy and competence positively predicted autonomous motivation toward PE , which in turn positively predicted autonomous motivation toward exercise ( i.e. , 4-day pedometer step count ) . Autonomous motivation toward exercise positively predicted step count , HRQoL , and PSC . Results of multi sample structural equation modeling supported gender invariance . Suggestions for future work are discussed Background This study examines associations between pedometer-determined steps/day and parent-reported child 's Body Mass Index ( BMI )  and time typically spent watching television between school and dinner . Methods Young people ( aged 5 - 19 years ) were recruited through their parents by r and om digit dialling and mailed a data collection package . Information on height and weight and time spent watching television between school and dinner on a typical school day was collected from parents . In total , 5949 boys and 5709 girls reported daily steps .  BMI was categorized as overweight or obese using Cole 's cut points . Participants wore pedometers for 7 days and logged daily steps . The odds of being overweight and obese by steps/day and parent-reported time spent television watching were estimated using logistic regression for complex sample s. Results Girls had a lower median steps/day ( 10682 versus 11059 for boys ) and also a narrower variation in steps/day ( interquartile range , 4410 versus 5309 for boys ) . 11 % of children aged 5 - 19 years were classified as obese ; 17 % of boys and girls were overweight . Both boys and girls watched , on average , < 40 minutes of television between school and dinner on school days . Adjusting for child 's age and sex and parental education , the odds of a child being obese decreased by 20 % for every extra 3000 steps/day and increased by 21 % for every 30 minutes of television watching . There was no association of being overweight with steps/day , however the odds of being overweight increased by 8 % for every 30 minutes of additional time spent watching television between school and dinner on a typical school day . Discussion Television viewing is the more prominent factor in terms of predicting overweight , and it contributes to obesity , but steps/day attenuates the association between television viewing and obesity , and therefore can be considered protective against obesity . In addition to replacing opportunities for active alternative behaviours , exposure to television might also impact body weight by promoting excess energy intake . Conclusions In this large nationally representative sample , pedometer-determined steps/day was associated with reduced odds of being obese ( but not overweight ) whereas each parent-reported hour spent watching television between school and dinner increased the odds of both overweight and obesity Purpose : To ( 1 ) compare the effects of two worksite-based walking interventions on  employee participation  rates ; ( 2 ) compare average daily step counts between conditions , and ; ( 3 ) examine the effects of increases in average daily step counts on biometric and psychologic outcomes . Design : We conducted a cluster-r and omized trial in which six employer groups were r and omly selected and r and omly assigned to condition . Setting : Four manufacturing worksites and two office-based worksite served as the setting . Subjects : A total of 474 employees from six employer groups were included . Intervention : A st and ard walking program was compared to an enhanced program that included incentives , feedback , competitive challenges , and monthly wellness workshops . Measures : Walking was measured by self-reported daily step counts . Survey measures and biometric screenings were administered at baseline and 3 , 6 , and 9 months after baseline . Analysis : Analysis used linear mixed models with repeated measures . Results : During 9 months , participants in the enhanced condition averaged 726 more steps per day compared with those in the st and ard condition ( p < .001 ) . A 1000-step increase in average daily steps was associated with significant weight loss for both men ( −3.8 lbs . ) and women ( −2.1 lbs . ) , and reductions in body mass index ( −0.41 men , −0.31 women ) . Higher step counts were also associated with improvements in mood , having more energy , and higher ratings of overall health . Conclusions : An enhanced walking program significantly increases participation rates and daily step counts , which were associated with weight loss and reductions in body mass index Background This study focuses on the comparison of weekday/weekend  parent-child behavioural patterns ( step count ( SC ) and screen time ( ST ) ) and answers the question of whether achieving the recommendations for daily SC ( 10,000 ) in parents also helps their preschool children achieve the recommended daily SC ( 11,500 ) . Methods The participants ( 278 parents aged 30–45 and their 194 children aged 4–7 ) were r and omly recruited from 10 Czech public kindergartens . The participants recorded SC ( pedometer Yamax Digiwalker SW-200 ) and ST duration ( proxy-report ) for seven consecutive days ( ≥8 h/day ) during September – October 2014 and April – May 2015 . Differences between weekdays/weekends SC or ST were tested using a paired t-test . The odds of achieving the recommended daily SC for children were estimated using general logistic regression separately for weekdays and weekends . Results Only the mothers were found to have a significantly lower SC at weekends than on weekdays . All of the participants showed significantly more ST at weekends than on weekdays ( daughters : 78.6 vs. 45.7 min/day , p < 0.001 ; sons : 78.8 vs. 55.8 min/day ; mothers : 93.0 vs. 68.3 min/day ; and fathers : 116.6 vs. 87.5 min/day ) . Daughters and sons were significantly more likely to achieve daily SC recommendation if a ) the SC on weekdays during the daily routine in kindergarten exceeded the median of kindergarten SC or b ) at weekends if their mother ( OR : 9.67 , 95 % CI : 3.57–26.23 ) exceeded 10,000 steps a day . Conclusions Especially at weekends , preschoolers have higher odds of meeting the recommended 11,500 steps per day when their mother reaches 10,000 steps per day and this is independent of the amount of parents ’ ST . Moreover , physical activity in kindergarten helps preschool children meet the 11,500 recommended steps per day on weekdays . Therefore , interventions to promote physical activity in preschoolers should focus on kindergartens and encourage involvement of their families Background Interventions design ed to increase workplace physical activity may not automatically reduce high volumes of sitting , a behaviour independently linked to chronic diseases such as obesity and type II diabetes . This study compared the impact two different walking strategies had on step counts and reported sitting times . Methods Participants were white-collar university employees ( n = 179 ; age 41.3 ± 10.1 years ; 141 women ) , who volunteered and undertook a st and ardised ten-week intervention at three sites .  Pre-intervention step counts  ( Yamax SW-200 ) and  self-reported sitting times  were measured over five consecutive workdays . Using pre-intervention step counts , employees at each site were r and omly allocated to a control group ( n = 60 ; maintain normal behaviour ) , a route-based walking group ( n = 60 ; at least 10 minutes sustained walking each workday ) or an incidental walking group ( n = 59 ; walking in workday tasks ) . Workday step counts and reported sitting times were re-assessed at the beginning , mid- and endpoint of intervention and group mean± SD steps/day and reported sitting times for pre-intervention and intervention measurement points compared using a mixed factorial ANOVA ; paired sample -t-tests were used for follow-up , simple effect analyses . Results A significant interactive effect ( F = 3.5 ; p < 0.003 ) was found between group and step counts . Daily steps for controls decreased over the intervention period ( -391 steps/day ) and increased for route ( 968 steps/day ; t = 3.9 , p < 0.000 ) and incidental ( 699 steps/day ; t = 2.5 , p < 0.014 ) groups . There were no significant changes for reported sitting times , but average values did decrease relative to the control ( routes group = 7 minutes/day ; incidental group = 15 minutes/day ) . Reductions were most evident for the incidental group in the first week of intervention , where reported sitting decreased by an average of 21 minutes/day ( t = 1.9 ; p < 0.057 ) . Conclusion Compared to controls , both route and incidental walking increased physical activity  in white-collar employees . Our data suggests that workplace walking , particularly through incidental movement , also has the potential to decrease employee sitting times , but there is a need for on-going research using concurrent and objective measures of sitting , st and ing and walking Objective : Confirmation and quantification of observed differences in goal -directed walking behavior . Design : Single-blind , split-half r and omized trial . Setting : Small rural university , Pennsylvania , United States . Subjects : A total of 94 able-bodied subjects ( self-selected volunteer students , faculty and staff of a small university ) were r and omly assigned walking goals , and 53 completed the study . Interventions : Incentivized pedometer-monitored program requiring recording the step-count  for 56-days into a custom-made website providing daily feedback . Main outcome measures : Steps logged per day . Results : During the first half of the study , the 5000 and 10,000 step group logged significantly different steps 7500 and 9000 , respectively ( P > 0.05 ) . During the second half of the study , the 5000 and 10,000 step groups logged 7000 and 8600 steps , respectively ( significance P > 0.05 ) . The group switched from 5000 to →10,000 steps logged , 7900 steps for the first half and 9500 steps for the second half ( significance P > 0.05 ) . The group switched from 10,000 to 5000 steps logged 9700 steps for the first half and 9000 steps for the second half , which was significant ( p > 0.05 ) . Conclusions : Levels of walking behavior are influenced by the goals assigned . Subjects with high goals walk more than those with low goals , even if they do not meet the assigned goal . Reducing goals from a high to low level can reduce walking behavior OBJECTIVES Given the importance of optimizing physical activity in adolescents , the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of activity mode , environment , and semester on step counts/minute and MVPA during daily middle-school physical education ( PE ) . DESIGN A prospect i ve and observational research design . METHODS Participants included 232 students ( Mean age=13.3±0.4 years ) recruited from the seventh and eighth grade s from one public middle-school in the U.S. Activity modes were employed across the school year including motor skills , games , and fitness activities located in indoor and outdoor environments . Step counts/minute and MVPA  were monitored across 132 PE lessons during Fall and Spring semesters using NL-1000 piezoelectric pedometers . A three-way Multivariate Analysis of Covariance ( MANCOVA ) was employed to examine the effect of activity mode ( skill games vs. fitness ) , environment ( indoors vs. outdoors ) , and semester ( Fall vs. Spring ) on student step counts/minute and MVPA . MANCOVA was followed by separate ANCOVA tests . RESULTS MANCOVA yielded a statistically significant three-way interaction ( Wilks ' Λ=0.98 F(2 , 1153)=8.9 , P<0.001 ) . Follow-up tests supported that physical activity was higher during outdoor fitness activities in the Fall compared to indoor motor skills in the Spring for step counts/minute ( Mean difference=27.0 steps/minute , P<0.001 , Cohen 's d=1.6 ) and MVPA ( Mean difference=7.8min , P<0.001 , Cohen 's d=2.0 ) . CONCLUSIONS Daily middle-school physical activity was the highest during outdoor fitness activities in the Fall and the lowest during indoor motor skill games in the Spring OBJECTIVE : To test the feasibility of creating a valid and reliable checklist with the following features : appropriate for assessing both r and omised and non-r and omised studies ; provision of both an overall score for study quality and a profile of scores not only for the quality of reporting , internal validity ( bias and confounding ) and power , but also for external validity . DESIGN : A pilot version was first developed , based on epidemiological principles , review s , and existing checklists for r and omised studies . Face and content validity were assessed by three experienced review ers and reliability was determined using two raters assessing 10 r and omised and 10 non-r and omised studies . Using different raters , the checklist was revised and tested for internal consistency ( Kuder-Richardson 20 ) , test-retest and inter-rater reliability ( Spearman correlation coefficient and sign rank test ; kappa statistics ) , criterion validity , and respondent burden . MAIN RESULTS : The performance of the checklist improved considerably after revision of a pilot version . The Quality Index had high internal consistency ( KR-20 : 0.89 ) as did the subscales apart from external validity ( KR-20 : 0.54 ) . Test-retest ( r 0.88 ) and inter-rater ( r 0.75 ) reliability of the Quality Index were good . Reliability of the subscales varied from good ( bias ) to poor ( external validity ) . The Quality Index correlated highly with an existing , established instrument for assessing r and omised studies ( r 0.90 ) . There was little difference between its performance with non-r and omised and with r and omised studies . Raters took about 20 minutes to assess each paper ( range 10 to 45 minutes ) . CONCLUSIONS : This study has shown that it is feasible to develop a checklist that can be used to assess the method ological quality not only of r and omised controlled trials but also non-r and omised studies . It has also shown that it is possible to produce a checklist that provides a profile of the paper , alerting review ers to its particular method ological strengths and weaknesses . Further work is required to improve the checklist and the training of raters in the assessment of external validity PURPOSE The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a school-based intervention ( Program X ) incorporating pedometers and e-mail support on physical activity , sedentary behavior , and healthy eating  in adolescents . METHODS A r and omized control trial was used to evaluate the impact of the Program X intervention .  Six schools ( N = 124 participants ; mean age 14.1 + /- .8 years ) were r and omized to intervention or control conditions for the 6-month study period . Objective ly recorded physical activity ( mean steps/day ) , self-reported sedentary behavior , and dietary habits were measured at baseline and at 6-month follow-up and intervention effects were assessed using repeated- measures analysis of variance and chi(2 ) tests . RESULTS Participants in the intervention group increased their step counts by 956 + /- 4107 steps/day ( boys ) and 999 + /- 1999 ( girls ) . Repeated- measures analysis of variance revealed significant group-by-time interactions for boys ( F = 7.4 , p = .01 , d = .80 ) and girls ( F = 29.6 , p < .001 , d = 1.27 ) for mean steps/day . The intervention significantly decreased the number of energy-dense/low-nutrient snacks consumed by boys ( chi(2 ) = 4.0 , p = .043 ) and increased the number of fruit serves among girls ( chi(2 ) = 4.8 , p = .028 ) . The intervention did not have a statistically significant effect on sedentary behavior . CONCLUSION A school-based intervention incorporating physical activity monitoring using pedometers and e-mail support was successful in promoting physical activity and selected healthy eating behaviors in adolescent boys and girls Aims : To examine the development in pedometer-determined physical activity from 2007–2008 to 2011–2012 in the adult Danish population . Methods : The study population comprised two r and om sample s of 18–75-year-old individuals who took part in cross-sectional studies in 2007–2008 ( n=224 ) and 2011–2012 ( n=1515 ) .  Pedometer data ( sealed Yamax SW 200 ) were obtained for seven consecutive days . Data for 1624 participants ( 48.2 % men ) were included in the analysis . An overall step-defined activity level was examined based on a graduated step index ( sedentary , low active , somewhat active , active , highly active ) . The pedometer-determined outcomes were analysed using regression models . Results : A borderline significant decline ( p=0.077 ) from 8788 to 8341 steps/day ( −446 ( 95 % confidence intervals −50 , 943 ) ) was found between 2007–2008 and 2011–2012 . Furthermore , a 23.7 % ( 95 % confidence intervals −41.7 % , −0.1 % ) lower overall step-defined activity level was observed in 2011–2012 compared to 2007–2008 . These changes were primarily due to a reduced level of activity among women . The proportion of individuals taking ⩾10,000 steps/day decreased non-significantly from 34.8 % to 29.3 % , whereas the proportion taking < 5000 steps/day did not differ between survey periods . Conclusions : This nationally representative survey suggests an overall reduction in the physical activity level among Danish adults . The reduction was due to a shift in the population distribution from higher to lower levels of activity . If this shift is true , it is worrying from a public health perspective . Our study result needs , however , to be confirmed by other population studies OBJECTIVE To assess whether the " 10,000 Steps Ghent " intervention had any effect on self-reported sitting time . METHODS A multi- strategy community-based intervention was implemented in 2005 to promote physical activity ( PA ) to adults living in Ghent , Belgium . In 2005 , 648 r and omly selected participants ( aged 25 to 75 ) from the intervention community Ghent and 592 from a comparison community , completed the International Physical Activity Question naire ( IPAQ ) and a pedometer log .  Of these , 440 intervention participants and 426 comparison participants completed the follow-up measurements in 2006 . RESULTS A decrease of 12 min in total daily sitting time was found in the intervention community , compared with an increase of 18 min/day in the comparison community ( F=9.5 , p=0.002 ) . The effect was seen for both weekday ( p=0.044 ) and weekend day ( p<0.001 ) sitting times . In the intervention community , total daily sitting time decreased more in the participants who increased their step counts ( -18 min/day ; t=2.5 ; p=0.012 ) , than in those who did not ( no change ; t=0.8 , ns ) . CONCLUSIONS After 1 year of intervention , total , weekday , and weekend day sitting times were reduced in the intervention community , while sitting time increased in the comparison community Background Following publication of the PRISMA statement , the UK Centre for Review s and Dissemination ( CRD ) at the University of York in Engl and began to develop an international prospect i ve register of systematic review s with health-related outcomes . The objectives were to reduce unplanned duplication of review s and provide transparency in the review process , with the aim of minimizing reporting bias . Methods An international advisory group was formed and a consultation undertaken to establish the key items necessary for inclusion in the register and to gather views on various aspects of functionality . This article describes the development of the register , now called PROSPERO , and the process of registration . Results PROSPERO offers free registration and free public access to a unique prospect i ve register of systematic review s across all areas of health from all around the world . The dedicated web-based interface is electronically search able and available to all prospect i ve registrants . At the moment , inclusion in PROSPERO is restricted to systematic review s of the effects of interventions and strategies to prevent , diagnose , treat , and monitor health conditions , for which there is a health-related outcome .Ideally , registration should take place before the research ers have started formal screening against inclusion criteria but review s are eligible as long as they have not progressed beyond the point of completing data extraction .The required data set captures the key attributes of review design as well as the administrative details necessary for registration .Su bmi tted registration forms are checked against the scope for inclusion in PROSPERO and for clarity of content before being made publicly available on the register , rejected , or returned to the applicant for clarification . The public records include an audit trail of major changes to planned methods , details of when the review has been completed , and links to result ing publications when provided by the authors . Conclusions There has been international support and an enthusiastic response to the principle of prospect i ve registration of protocol s for systematic review s and to the development of PROSPERO .In October 2011 , PROSPERO contained 200 records of systematic review s being undertaken in 26 countries around the world on a diverse range of interventions OBJECTIVE Using a r and omised control trial design , this study assessed the impact of two walking interventions , on the work day step counts and health of UK academic and administrative , university employees . METHOD A convenience sample of 58 women ( age 42+/-10 years ) and 6 men ( age 40+/-11 years ) completed baseline and intervention measures for step counts , % body fat , waist circumference and systolic/diastolic blood pressure , during a ten-week period ( October to December , 2005 ) . Before intervention , baseline step counts ( five working days ) were used to r and omly allocate participants to a control ( maintain normal behaviour , n=22 ) and two treatment groups ( " walking routes " , n=21 ; " walking in tasks " , n=21 ) . Intervention effects were evaluated by calculating differences between pre-intervention and intervention data . A one-way ANOVA analysed significant differences between groups . RESULTS A significant intervention effect ( p<0.002 ) was found for step counts , with mean differences indicating a decrease in steps for the control group ( -767 steps/day ) and increases in the " walking routes " ( + 926 steps/day ) and " walking in tasks " ( + 997 steps/day ) groups . Small , non-significant changes were found in % body fat , waist circumference and blood pressure . CONCLUSIONS Findings have implication s for work-based physical activity promotion and the development of walking interventions within the completion of work-based tasks Background Physical activity ( PA ) is important for controlling childhood obesity , but a comprehensive PA model for school-aged children is lacking . Objectives Guided by the youth PA promotion ( YPAP ) model , this study estimated the direct and indirect effects of self-efficacy , enjoyment , parental influence , and environment on self-reported PA  and pedometer steps . A secondary purpose was to explore the association between self-reported PA and pedometer steps . Methods An observational and prospect i ve study was conducted among 133 children , aged 8–11 years old , from 10 elementary schools with afterschool programs in a Midwestern U.S. school district from August through October 2013 .  PA was assessed by a 7-day recall scale and pedometers . Other variables were assessed by vali date d question naires . Results Approximately 65 ( 49 % ) children were overweight or obese — only 17 ( 13 % ) met national PA recommendations — and body mass index z-score was negatively correlated with pedometer steps ( r = −.18 p = .04 ) . A path analysis showed that self-efficacy had a direct effect on self-reported PA and pedometer steps , enjoyment had only a direct effect on self-reported PA , and parental influence had a direct effect on pedometer steps and an indirect effect on self-reported PA through self-efficacy and enjoyment . The association between self-reported PA and pedometer steps was not significant . Discussion Because this study only partially supports the YPAP model , studies with a larger sample size and longitudinal design are essential to further examine this model . The nonsignificant relationship of self-reported PA with pedometer steps may be due to the systematic error result ing from a common method artifact of self-report . Given the importance of parental influence , enjoyment , and self-efficacy , targeting these three determinants in future interventions to increase PA among children is recommended Little is known about the effectiveness of school-based health promotion on physical activity inequalities among children from low-income areas . This study compared the two-year change in physical activity among 10 - 11 year-old children attending schools with and without health promotion programs by activity level , body weight status , and socioeconomic background s to assess whether health promotion programs reduce or exacerbate health inequalities . This was a quasi-experimental trial of a Comprehensive School Health ( CSH ) program implemented in schools located in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Edmonton , Alberta , Canada . In the spring of 2009 and 2011 , pedometer ( 7 full days ) and demographic data were collected from cross-sectional sample s of grade five children from 10 intervention and 20 comparison schools . Socioeconomic status was determined from parent self-report . Low-active , active , and high-active children were defined according to step-count tertiles . Multilevel linear regression methods adjusted for potential confounders were used to assess the relative inequity in physical activity and were compared between groups and over-time . In 2009 , a greater proportion of students in the intervention schools were overweight ( 38 % vs. 31 % p = 0.03 ) and were less active ( 10,827 vs. 12,265 steps/day p < 0.001 ) . Two years later , the relative difference in step-counts between intervention and comparison schools reduced from -15.5 % to 0 % among low-active students , from -13.4 % to 0 % among active students , and from -15.1 % to -2.7 % among high-active students . The relative difference between intervention and comparison schools reduced from -11.1 % to -1.6 % among normal weight students , from -16.8 % to -1.4 % among overweight students , and was balanced across socioeconomic subgroups . These findings demonstrate that CSH programs implemented in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods reduced inequalities in physical activity . Investments in school-based health promotion are a viable , promising , and important approach to improve physical activity and prevent childhood obesity , and may also reduce inequalities in health OBJECTIVE To investigate the suitability of N-of-1 r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) as a means of testing the effectiveness of behavior change techniques based on self-regulation theory ( goal setting and self-monitoring ) for promoting walking in healthy adult volunteers . METHOD A series of N-of-1 RCTs in 10 normal and overweight adults ages 19 - 67 ( M = 36.9 years ) . We r and omly allocated 60 days within each individual to text message-prompted daily goal - setting and /or self-monitoring interventions in accordance with a 2 ( step-count goal prompt vs. alternative goal prompt ) × 2 ( self-monitoring : open vs. blinded Omron-HJ-113-E pedometer ) factorial design . Aggregated data were analyzed using r and om intercept multilevel models . Single cases were analyzed individually . The primary outcome was daily pedometer step counts over 60 days . RESULTS Single-case analyses showed that 4 participants significantly increased walking : 2 on self-monitoring days and 2 on goal - setting days , compared with control days . Six participants did not benefit from the interventions . In aggregated analyses , mean step counts were higher on goal - setting days ( 8,499.9 vs. 7,956.3 ) and on self-monitoring days ( 8,630.3 vs. 7,825.9 ) . Multilevel analyses showed a significant effect of the self-monitoring condition ( p = .01 ) , the goal - setting condition approached significance ( p = .08 ) , and there was a small linear increase in walking over time ( p = .03 ) . CONCLUSION N-of-1 r and omized trials are a suitable means to test behavioral interventions in individual participants OBJECTIVE Although several studies have examined the effect of accumulated bouts on health outcomes , the impact of recommending short bouts on activity-related behavior in health promotion efforts has received minimal investigation . METHOD During this 5-week study in 2007 - 2008 , 43 university employees ( 8 male , 35 female ) in the Southeastern United States were r and omly assigned to a group recommended to achieve ( a ) 10,000 steps ( 10 K ) , ( b ) 30-minutes ( 30 min ) of continuous physical activity , or ( c ) 30-minutes of activity in bouts of at least 10 minutes ( bouts ) . RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the 10 K group showed the largest increase in step counts whereas the bouts group showed the smallest change over the intervention period , p=0.01 . Condition differences were most pronounced on days in which participants met their activity recommendation . Accelerometer results revealed that the 10 K ( d=1.1 ) and 30 min groups ( d=0.89 ) showed large increases in minutes of moderate to vigorous activity ( MVPA ) , whereas the bouts group showed minimal change ( d=0.11 ) . Although activity recommendations did not differentially affect self-efficacy , participants from all conditions showed decreased self-efficacy across the intervention ( p=0.02 ) , highlighting the need to develop strategies to increase self-efficacy in activity promotion efforts Using a r and omised controlled trial design , this feasibility study assessed the impact of two walking interventions on quality of life ( QoL ) and job performance of Catalan university employees . A convenience sample of 70 employees completed baseline and intervention measures of step counts ( Yamax SW 200 pedometer ) , wellbeing ( SF-12 question naire ) and work performance ( Work Limitations Question naire ) over 9 weeks . Before intervention , baseline step counts ( five working days ) were used to r and omly allocate participants to a control ( n = 26 ) , “ walking routes ” ( n = 19 ) and “ walking while working ” ( n = 25 ) groups . Intervention effects were evaluated by calculating differences between pre-intervention and intervention data . One-way ANOVA was used to examine differences between groups . No significant group differences were found for changes in work-day step counts , QoL or work performance . When data from the two intervention groups were pooled ( n = 44 ) there was a significant increase in step counts ( + 659 steps/day ; n = 12 ; p < 0.01 ) among participants classified as ` Sedentary — Low active ' ( 0—7499 steps/day ) at baseline . In contrast there was a significant decrease ( —637 steps/day ; p < 0.05 ) in those initially categorised as ` Active ' ( > 10,000 steps/day ; n = 21 ) and no change in those categorised as ` Moderately Active ' ( 7500—9999 , n = 11 ) . The ` Sedentary — Low activity ' group showed consistently greater improvements in QoL and work performance scores than the Moderate and Active groups . Initially low active participants showed the greatest increase in step counts and improved QoL and work productivity profiles . These data indicate the potential for improving QoL and job productivity through workplace walking in inactive Catalan employees BACKGROUND Urban elementary schools in minority communities with high obesity prevalence may have limited re sources for physical education ( PE ) to achieve daily activity recommendations . Little is known whether integrating physical activity ( PA ) into classrooms can increase activity levels of students attending such schools . METHODS We conducted a cluster r and omized , controlled trial among kindergarten and first- grade students from four Bronx , New York , schools to determine feasibility and impact of a classroom-based intervention on  students ' PA levels  . Students in two intervention schools received the Children 's Hospital at Montefiore Joining Academics and Movement ( CHAM JAM ) , an audio CD consisting of 10-minute , education-focused aerobic activities led by teachers three times a day . PA was objective ly measured by pedometer . Each subject wore a sealed pedometer during the 6-hour school day for 5 consecutive days at baseline ( Time 1 ) and 8 weeks postintervention ( Time 2 ) . Hierarchical linear models were fit to evaluate differences in mean number of steps between the two groups . RESULTS A total of 988 students participated ( intervention group , n=500 ; control group , n=488 ) . There was no significant difference at baseline between the two groups on mean number of steps ( 2581 [ st and ard deviation ( SD ) , 1284 ] vs. 2476 [ SD , 1180 ] ; P=0.71 ) . Eight weeks post-CHAM JAM , intervention group students took significantly greater mean number of steps than controls ( 2839 [ SD , 1262 ] vs. 2545 [ SD , 1153 ] ; P=0.0048 ) after adjusting for baseline number of steps and other covariates ( grade , gender , recess , and PE class ) . CHAM JAM was equally effective in gender , grade level , and BMI subgroups . CONCLUSIONS CHAM JAM significantly increased  school-based PA among kindergarten and first- grade students in inner-city schools . This approach holds promise as a cost-effective means to integrate the physical and cognitive benefits of PA into high-risk schools BACKGROUND Although previous studies have reported physical activity and its sociodemographic determinants using self-report measures , there have been few studies using pedometers . PURPOSE To ascertain pedometer-determined physical activity and its sociodemographic determinants among community residents living in four Japanese cities . METHODS A cross-sectional mail survey was conducted from February 2007 to January 2008 with a sample of 4000 residents ( aged 20 - 69 years and 50 % male ) who were r and omly selected from the registry of residential addresses . Complete responses for both question naire and pedometer were obtained from 790 residents ( 48.3±13.7 years , 46.7 % male ) . Associations of 11 sociodemographic variables with steps per day were examined using multiple logistic regression analyses . Data were analyzed in 2010 . RESULTS Men averaged 8763±3497 steps/day and women averaged 8242±3277 steps/day . Further , 29.0 % of men and 27.8 % of women walked ≥10,000 steps/day . City of residence , good self-rated health , low educational attainment , and not owning a car were associated with taking ≥10,000 steps/day in men , whereas employed status and dog ownership were associated with walking ≥10,000 steps/day in women . CONCLUSIONS The results contribute to underst and ing of step-defined physical activity and its sociodemographic determinants . A diversity of step counts by sociodemographic variables clarifies specific population s among Japanese who are in need of intervention to promote physical activity
target: Surprisingly no use was made of time series analysis for analysing step count data .
  The review also suggested several strategies for the personalisation of physical activity programs .
  Conclusions Overall , it appears that the physical activity levels of people involved in such programs vary across individuals depending on psychosocial , demographic , weather and climatic factors .
  Statistical models can provide a better underst and ing of the impact of these factors , allowing for the provision of more personalised physical activity programs , which are expected to produce better immediate and long-term outcomes for participants .
background: Background Physical activity reduces the risk of noncommunicable diseases and is therefore an essential component of a healthy lifestyle .
  Regular engagement in physical activity can produce immediate and long term health benefits .
  However , physical activity levels are not as high as might be expected .
  For example , according to the global World Health Organization ( WHO ) 2017 statistics , more than 80 % of the world ’s adolescents are insufficiently physically active .
  In response to this problem , physical activity programs have become popular , with step counts commonly used to measure program performance .
  Analysing step count data and the statistical modeling of this data is therefore important for evaluating individual and program performance .
  This study review s the statistical methods that are used to model and evaluate physical activity programs , using step counts .